Chapter 11 - The Nursery Camera
This time Mark did not run blindly home.
He wanted to.
Everything inside him screamed to reach Lily.
But Lily was not at the mansion.
After the first intrusion, Mark had moved her and Elena to a secure rental property known only to Rachel, Walsh, and two vetted guards.
The photograph of the nursery was a threat.
Or a clue.
Detective Walsh enlarged it.
“Timestamp?”
“Removed.”
Rachel examined the visible window.
“The curtains are old.”
Mark looked closer.
She was right.
Victoria had replaced the nursery curtains two months earlier.
The photograph showed the previous cream-colored set.
“This wasn’t taken tonight.”
“No,” Walsh said. “Someone wants you to think they’re closer than they are.”
“Grant.”
“Maybe.”
Mark studied the image.
Then noticed a reflection in the nursery mirror.
A man holding the camera.
Only his hand and part of his jacket were visible.
Silver cuff link.
Ellison Dynamics logo.
Executive gift set.
They had given those cuff links to only seven people.
Mark.
Grant.
Samuel Pike.
Two retired directors.
Jonathan Reed.
And Mark’s late father.
Grant had never worn his.
Samuel wore his constantly.
Mark looked at Rachel.
“Samuel.”
She frowned.
“We don’t know that.”
“Look.”
The cuff link.
Walsh said, “We need more than jewelry.”
Mark called Samuel.
No answer.
At 3:40 p.m., Samuel finally returned the call.
“I was in a meeting.”
“Where are you?”
“Home.”
“I need to see you.”
“Tomorrow.”
“Now.”
A pause.
“Mark, you’re not in a position to order anyone.”
“Someone sent me a photograph from Lily’s nursery.”
Silence.
“Why are you telling me?”
“There’s a reflection.”
Another silence.
Samuel’s voice changed.
“Come alone.”
Rachel immediately shook her head.
Mark ignored her.
“Where?”
“My house.”
Walsh said absolutely not.
Mark compromised.
Police waited two blocks away.
Samuel lived in a Georgian estate surrounded by old trees.
He opened the door before Mark knocked.
“You shouldn’t have brought police.”
“You shouldn’t ask threatened men to come alone.”
Samuel led him into the study.
Mark showed the photograph.
Samuel sat down heavily.
“That was me.”
Mark stared.
“When?”
“Seven months ago.”
“Why were you photographing Lily’s nursery before she was born?”
Samuel looked ashamed.
“Your mother asked me to.”
“Why?”
“She suspected Victoria planned to install her own surveillance system.”
Mark almost laughed.
“Victoria hated cameras.”
“Your cameras.”
Samuel opened a drawer.
Inside was a small electronic device.
A miniature audio transmitter.
“Evelyn found one hidden in your bedroom.”
Mark stared.
“Victoria bugged me?”
“Grant did.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I confronted him.”
“When?”
“Before Evelyn died.”
“And you said nothing?”
Samuel looked away.
“I was afraid.”
Mark stood.
“You suspended me.”
“I was trying to protect the company.”
“You protected yourself.”
“Yes.”
The admission stopped Mark.
Samuel’s hands shook.
“Grant had documents showing payments I authorized.”
“Fraudulent payments?”
“I thought they were legitimate consulting retainers.”
“How much?”
“Three million.”
“You signed without checking.”
“Yes.”
“And once you learned the truth?”
“He told me prison would destroy my wife. She has dementia. I’m her only caregiver.”
Mark’s anger did not disappear.
But it changed.
Grant had built a system out of people’s weaknesses.
Claire’s brother.
Samuel’s wife.
Mark’s loneliness.
Victoria’s ambition.
Everyone had a pressure point.
“What does Grant want now?”
Samuel swallowed.
“He wants the board to approve a merger.”
“With whom?”
“Halcyon Capital.”
Mark stared.
Halcyon.
The lender.
Rachel had warned that something larger might be coming.
Samuel continued.
“Emergency board vote tomorrow.”
“What happens if it passes?”
“Halcyon injects sixty million dollars, covers the pension shortfall, and receives temporary voting control.”
Mark understood.
Grant stole money.
Then his own lender would rescue the company.
In exchange for control.
“They created the crisis.”
“Yes.”
“And Victoria’s loan?”
“Part of the same structure.”
“Who owns Halcyon?”
Samuel looked frightened.
“That’s the question Evelyn was trying to answer.”
Mark leaned forward.
“Tell me.”
May you like
Samuel whispered the name.
“Helen Cross.”
