Chapter 4 - THE SECOND PHONE
Serena did not deny the phone existed.
That surprised Dominic.
Instead, she smiled.
A strange little smile.
“You think you’ve won.”
Dominic stared at her.
“This isn’t a game.”
“Everything is a game to men like you.”
Marcus entered carrying a clear evidence bag.
Inside was a black phone.
Beside it was a small brass key.
Dominic recognized the key immediately.
He had commissioned three copies.
One belonged to him.
One belonged to Marcus.
The third was sealed inside a private deposit box in Manhattan.
Or it was supposed to be.
Dominic looked at Marcus.
“Yours?”
Marcus removed his own key from his pocket.
“No.”
Dominic produced his.
Two accounted for.
The third should have been hundreds of miles away.
Dominic looked at Serena.
“Where did you get it?”
She smiled.
“I found it.”
“Where?”
“Your study.”
“No.”
Dominic moved closer.
“You didn’t.”
“How would you know?”
“Because I built that safe.”
Serena’s smile disappeared.
“The key doesn’t stay in the study.”
He took the evidence bag.
“So I’ll ask again.”
His eyes met hers.
“Where did you get it?”
Serena sat down.
“I want my lawyer.”
Several employees looked at each other.
Dominic’s expression changed.
Not anger.
Recognition.
Serena had just stopped pretending.
Marcus noticed too.
Dominic handed the bag back.
“Give her a phone.”
Serena blinked.
Marcus looked surprised.
“You’re letting me call?”
“Absolutely.”
Serena stared suspiciously at him.
Dominic pulled out a chair.
He sat across from her.
“In fact, I insist.”
Marcus placed a clean phone on the table.
Serena did not touch it.
“What’s the trick?”
“No trick.”
Dominic leaned back.
“Call your lawyer.”
She studied him.
“You’ll listen.”
“No.”
Dominic stood.
“I’ll leave the room.”
Serena looked uncertain.
That was exactly what Dominic wanted.
He walked toward the door.
Marcus followed.
At the threshold, Dominic stopped.
“Oh.”
Serena looked up.
“The cellular signal inside the estate is being recorded.”
Her expression hardened.
Dominic smiled without warmth.
“Good night, Serena.”
He left.
Twenty minutes later, Dominic stood in the security room.
Marcus entered.
“She called someone.”
“Lawyer?”
“No.”
Dominic looked at him.
Marcus placed headphones on the desk.
“She called a number registered to a shell company.”
“Who answered?”
“We don’t know.”
“What did she say?”
Marcus pressed a button.
Serena’s voice filled the room.
“He came home early.”
A man answered.
“Then adjust.”
“I can’t adjust.”
Serena sounded furious.
“The nanny talked.”
“What did she tell him?”
“I don’t know.”
“You were supposed to control her.”
“I tried.”
Dominic’s hands tightened.
Then the unknown man said something that made both Dominic and Marcus become still.
“Does Blackwood know about the trust?”
Serena answered.
“Not yet.”
The recording stopped.
Dominic looked at Marcus.
“What trust?”
“I was hoping you knew.”
“I don’t.”
Marcus reopened the audio.
The conversation continued.
Serena’s voice.
“The wedding has to happen.”
The man replied.
“Then make it happen.”
“He’s suspicious.”
“Of you?”
“Of everyone.”
A pause.
Then Serena whispered.
“What if he cancels?”
The man’s answer was immediate.
“Then we move to the other plan.”
“What other plan?”
“You know what happens to Ethan.”
Dominic went completely still.
Marcus paused the recording.
Neither man spoke.
Dominic stared at the speaker.
Marcus knew better than to interrupt him.
After several seconds, Dominic spoke.
“Play it again.”
Marcus did.
“You know what happens to Ethan.”
Dominic listened.
Again.
Then again.
His face became colder each time.
Finally, he turned away.
“Trace the number.”
“Already working on it.”
“Find the trust.”
“I’ll contact legal.”
“No.”
Marcus frowned.
Dominic turned back.
“Not our regular legal team.”
“Why?”
“Because whoever this is knows about private family documents.”
Marcus understood.
“You think there’s another leak.”
“I think there are several.”
Dominic walked toward the door.
“Use Judge Holloway.”
Marcus stared.
“He retired.”
“He owes me.”
“For what?”
Dominic looked at him.
“You don’t need to know.”
Marcus nodded.
Dominic reached the hallway.
His phone rang.
St. Matthew’s Hospital.
He answered immediately.
“Blackwood.”
A nurse spoke.
“Mr. Blackwood, there’s been an incident involving your son.”
Dominic stopped walking.
“What incident?”
“Someone attempted to enter his room.”
Everything around Dominic seemed to disappear.
“Who?”
“We don’t know.”
“Where is Lily?”
There was hesitation.
Dominic’s heart began pounding.
“Where is Lily?”
“She was with him.”
“What happened?”
The nurse took a breath.
“She stopped the person from reaching Ethan.”
Dominic was already moving.
“Is my son safe?”
“Yes.”
“Lily?”
Another hesitation.
“She’s missing.”
Dominic stopped.
Marcus nearly collided with him.
“What?”
Dominic’s voice became deadly quiet.
The nurse continued.
“Security found blood in the service stairwell.”
May you like
Dominic closed his eyes.
“And Miss Parker is nowhere in the hospital.”
