The millionaire took pity on the beautiful homeless girl and hired her as a caregiver for his disabled father…
Veronica tensed. «What incident with Austrian partners? Could it be related to what Catherine discovered?» «That was a one-off,» Grayson interjected. «Since then, we’ve tripled checks.
It won’t happen again.» «Nevertheless,» Sinclair said firmly, «I want to check everything thoroughly. Give me a week.»
«A week?» Grayson’s voice held barely concealed irritation. «Ethan, we don’t have a week. Decision needs to be now.»
«Then my answer is no,» Sinclair replied calmly. «I won’t invest company money in a project I haven’t studied enough.» Heavy silence fell in the room.
Then Sommers’ voice. «Perhaps there’s a compromise.» «Ethan, you could give preliminary approval with a clause that final decision comes after legal review.
That would reserve the land but leave you the right to refuse if something doesn’t suit.» «That’s reasonable,» Sinclair agreed after a pause. «Fine, I’m ready for that.
But no money transfers until all checks are complete.» Veronica heard Grayson say something quietly to Markham, too quietly to make out. Then louder.
«Agreed. We’ll prepare the preliminary contract tomorrow.» Deciding she’d heard enough, Veronica quietly moved away from the door and went upstairs to her room.
She didn’t want to risk returning to the living room; too great the chance Grayson might remember where he’d seen her before. In her room, she sat on the bed and pondered. Something didn’t add up in this story.
Why were Grayson and Markham pushing this project so insistently? And why the rush to sign the contract? If Catherine discovered machinations on their part, perhaps this project was part of their plan. But what plan? Bankrupt the company? Take the business from Sinclair? And where is Catherine herself now? Veronica recalled the clinic employee’s words that Evelyn was picked up by the guardian 8 months ago. If the guardian was Grayson, where could he have taken her? Unlikely another clinic—too many papers, too high risk of exposure.
More likely some secluded place where she’s held under guard or… she’s no longer alive. Suddenly, Veronica recalled a memory. During dinner, Grayson mentioned his country house, a secluded spot for rest from city hustle.
Perhaps Catherine is there? But how to check? Can’t just go and start searching. Need a plan, need allies. And most importantly, need to act fast before the partners suspect something.
Veronica decided tomorrow she’d talk to Ethan. Despite the risk, he must know the truth about his daughter. And together, they could find a way to save Catherine and expose the partners’ conspiracy.
With that thought, she finally lay down to sleep, though sleep was long in coming. Too many questions unanswered, too great the danger. But one thing Veronica knew for sure—she wouldn’t back down until she saw this through.
The morning was overcast, with low clouds promising rain. Veronica woke early, determined to talk to Ethan. But first, ensure Grayson and Markham had left the house.
Descending to breakfast, she learned with relief from Anna Paulson that the guests left late evening, and Ethan was lingering in his room, working on documents. He asked to say he’ll come down later, the housekeeper reported. And Constantine asked to wake him at nine, not earlier.
Yesterday’s evening tired him. This gave Veronica time to prepare for the important conversation. She quickly breakfasted and went to the garden to collect her thoughts.
How best to present to Ethan the news his daughter is likely alive? How to convince him without hard evidence? She decided to start with Catherine’s diary. The entry about suspicions toward the partners confirmed the girl discovered something. Then tell about the clinic patient match, same blood type, same wrist fracture.
Too many coincidences for chance. At 10 o’clock, after Constantine got his morning procedures and stayed to rest in the room, Veronica finally resolved. She went up to the second floor and knocked on Ethan’s study door.
«Come in,» his voice sounded. Sinclair sat at the desk, piled with papers. Seeing Veronica, he smiled.
«Good morning. How’s father?» «Fine, resting after procedures,» she replied. «Ethan, I need to talk to you seriously.
It’s very important.» Something in her tone alerted him. He set aside the documents and pointed to the chair opposite.
«I’m listening.» Veronica took a deep breath and began. «This concerns your daughter, Catherine.»
Sinclair’s face instantly changed. Becoming tense and closed. «What exactly?» he asked coldly.
«I have reason to believe she’s alive,» Veronica said directly. And that her disappearance is linked to her discovering some machinations by your partners.» For several seconds, dead silence hung in the study.
Sinclair looked at her as if she’d suddenly spoken in an alien language. «What nonsense?» he uttered. «My daughter died in a car accident a year and a half ago.
That’s a fact. Please, hear me out, Veronica pleaded. I have evidence.»
She pulled out her phone and showed him the photo of the diary page. «This is your daughter’s diary. I found it in her room.»
The last entry says she found suspicious documents with Grayson and Markham. Sinclair took the phone and studied the photo closely. His hands trembled slightly.
«This is Katie’s handwriting,» he said slowly. But this proves nothing. Yes, she suspected something, but then died in the accident.
Perhaps it wasn’t an accident, perhaps Grayson and Markham are involved in her death. But the fact remains—she’s dead. «No,» Veronica said firmly.
«A year ago, I worked at Clear Meadows Psychiatric Clinic. There was a patient strikingly like Catherine. Brought by a man claiming to be her uncle.
It was Alex Grayson. I recognized him yesterday. The patient was named Evelyn Porter.
She had PTSD and partial amnesia. Sinclair looked at her skeptically. This could be simple coincidence.
She had AB negative blood type, like Catherine, and traces of a right wrist fracture, the same as your daughter’s. The odds of such coincidence are practically zero. Sinclair paled.
He stood from the desk and went to the window, staring unseeingly at the garden. If what you say is true, his voice trembled, if Katie is alive. Where is she now? Eight months ago, she was taken from the clinic, Veronica replied.
Likely at Grayson’s country house. He mentioned it at dinner yesterday. Sinclair turned sharply to her.
Why? Why hold her captive for a year and a half? What are they after? I think it’s about the company, Veronica suggested. Catherine learned something about their plans, perhaps embezzlement of firm money. They feared she’d tell you and ruin their plans.
So they staged her death and hid her. And who died in that car? Sinclair still couldn’t fully believe what he heard. I don’t know, Veronica admitted honestly.
Perhaps they found someone similar in build. The body was badly burned; identification by dental records and personal items. Those can be faked, especially with connections.
Sinclair slowly returned to the desk and sank into the chair, as if suddenly aged 10 years. «I should have guessed,» he said quietly. There were signs.
Katie spoke of suspicions. Then that strange accident. And all the time since, Grayson and Markham behaved differently than before.
More assertively, more confidently, as if… As if they knew I couldn’t oppose them without my daughter’s support. «What are you going to do?» Veronica asked.
Sinclair looked at her, pain and despair replaced by resolve. «Find my daughter. And make those bastards pay for everything they’ve done.
Can’t act recklessly,» Veronica warned. «If they learn you suspect something, they might harm Catherine or move her.» «You’re right,» he agreed after a pause.
«Need to act carefully. First, find out exactly where Grayson’s country house is.» He pressed a button on the phone.
«Victor, come in, please.» A minute later, the assistant entered. «Victor, do you remember Alex Grayson’s country house? The one we went to for barbecue two years ago?» «Of course.
Cottage by the lake, about 25 miles from the city, on the northern highway.» Do you remember the exact address? «Not exactly, but I can show on the map. And I should have the coordinates in the navigator; I drove you there.»
«Excellent,» Sinclair nodded. «Find those details and bring them to me. And prepare the car for departure in an hour.
Just not the company one, my personal SUV. And not a word to anyone about our plans.» «Understood,» Victor said and left.
Sinclair turned to Veronica. «You’ll come with me. If Katie is really there, and in the state you describe, she may need medical help.»
«Of course,» Veronica agreed. «But what do we tell your father?» «The truth,» Ethan replied firmly. «Or at least part of it.
That we have hope Katie is alive, and we’re going to check this information.» Father is stronger than he seems; he’ll handle the news. An hour later, with everything prepared, they stood by the car. Constantine, pale but determined, came out to see them off.
«Find my granddaughter,» he said, hugging his son. «And bring her home.» «We will,» Ethan promised.
«And you take care. We’ll be back soon, and everything will be fine.» The drive to Grayson’s country house took a little over an hour.
They drove in silence, each lost in thoughts. Veronica worried that if she was wrong? How would Ethan handle another disappointment? But her inner voice said she was on the right path. Too many coincidences, too many oddities in this story.
Catherine is alive, and she needs help. Finally, the navigator announced they had arrived. Before them was a high fence with gates, behind which a large wooden house in Scandinavian style was visible.
The area seemed deserted, but there was a security camera at the gates. «How do we get inside?» Veronica asked. Sinclair pulled a small device from the glove compartment.
Universal gate remote. Grayson boastfully gave it to me two years ago when inviting me. Said I could come anytime.
He smiled bitterly. He hardly imagined I’d use that invitation in such circumstances. He pressed the button on the remote, and the gates slowly opened…
