Chapter 9 - THE AIRPORT
Nathan nearly lost control when he saw her.
Her face was bruised.
Her shoulder strapped.
“Take those off her,” he said.
The agent did not move.
“We found her with forged passports.”
“I was unconscious.”
“Tell them.”
“We’re working on it.”
The federal agent slid photographs across the table.
Grace in a black sedan.
Grace being wheeled through a private terminal.
Grace’s fingerprints on a suitcase containing cash.
Grace’s name on two passports.
“They staged everything.”
“Where did they take you?”
“I don’t know. I woke up in a room. Conrad was there.”
“Victoria?”
“No.”
“He kept saying you would choose the company.”
“He doesn’t know me.”
Grace’s eyes softened sadly.
“Your father thought he did.”
That hurt because it was true.
Nathan placed the letter on the table.
Grace read the first page.
Her expression cracked.
“He knew Conrad wanted Lily dead?”
“Yes.”
“And he still threatened me?”
“Yes.”
Nathan did not defend his father.
“He was wrong.”
“He took four years from her.”
“And from me.”
“You don’t get to make your pain equal mine.”
“You’re right.”
That answer surprised her.
“I’m not asking you to forgive me for not knowing. I’m asking for the chance to help now.”
Before Grace could answer, Agent Ruiz entered.
“We confirmed the passports were printed using a government contractor compromised last month.”
Grace’s handcuffs came off.
Then Ruiz added, “But we have another problem.”
He placed an audio recording on the table.
I will take Lily where Nathan can never find her.
“That’s not me.”
“It is your voice.”
Nathan listened carefully.
The cadence was wrong.
“AI,” he said.
“Likely synthesized.”
“They built an entire criminal case.”
Ellis said, “And they did it fast.”
“Meaning they had prepared it before today.”
“Exactly.”
Grace whispered, “Victoria knew I was coming to work for him.”
“What?”
“I didn’t apply for the maid job.”
“The agency called me.”
Nathan’s stomach dropped.
May you like
“Who referred you?”
“Victoria.”
