Chapter 10 - THE NIGHT DESMOND DISAPPEARED
The next morning, Desmond was gone.
His wheelchair remained beside the bed.
His phone was on the nightstand.
The security cameras had been disabled.
I stared at the empty room.
Then called Detective Hayes.
Within minutes, the estate was surrounded by police.
Frankie was missing too.
So was Victoria.
My heart hammered.
I searched Desmond's room.
On the desk was a handwritten note.
CLAIRE, DON'T COME AFTER ME.
I stared.
Then noticed something strange.
The handwriting was too neat.
Desmond's left hand had been injured in the explosion.
His writing had become uneven.
This note wasn't his.
I called Nora.
"It's forged."
She arrived moments later.
"What?"
I showed her.
"Desmond didn't write this."
Nora studied it.
"How can you tell?"
I pointed to the letters.
"He can't make these strokes anymore."
Nora looked at me.
Then nodded.
"Good catch."
Investigators traced a vehicle leaving the estate at four in the morning.
It traveled toward an abandoned industrial complex near the Calumet River.
Nora organized a rescue operation.
I wanted to go.
She refused.
"Claire, you're a witness and his nurse. You're not part of the tactical team."
I hated that she was right.
So I stayed at the command center.
And waited.
Hours passed.
Then Nora called.
"We found him."
My knees weakened.
"Is he alive?"
"Yes."
I closed my eyes.
"Is he hurt?"
A pause.
"He's conscious. Paramedics are evaluating him."
I began crying.
Then Nora said:
"Claire, there's something else."
I wiped my face.
"What?"
"Desmond wasn't kidnapped to be killed."
I froze.
"He was taken to sign over control of his businesses."
May you like
My stomach tightened.
"And when he refused, Arthur threatened to kill you."
