Chapter 2 - THE BOY WHO KNEW THE TEXTS WERE FAKE
I woke in a hospital with Caleb asleep against my side.
His cheek rested beside my elbow.
Dented metal box on his lap.
Mrs. Adler sat near the window.
Roman stood outside the room.
Not inside.
That mattered.
I touched Caleb’s hair.
His eyes opened instantly.
“Elise?”
“Hi.”
He threw himself toward me.
Then remembered I was hurt and stopped halfway.
“Can I?”
My throat tightened.
“Yes.”
He hugged me carefully.
“You didn't leave.”
“No.”
“I knew.”
“I know.”
“You missed Wednesday.”
“I know.”
“Then Thursday.”
“I know.”
His voice started shaking.
“Then somebody texted that you needed time.”
Roman appeared at the doorway.
Caleb looked at him.
Recognition happened instantly.
“You're him.”
Roman blinked.
“I assume that isn’t good.”
“You’re Mr. Calder.”
“Yes.”
Caleb’s face hardened.
“Why didn't you notice she was gone?”
Silence.
Mrs. Adler closed her eyes.
I nearly stopped breathing.
Roman did not become angry.
Good.
He answered:
“I should have.”
Caleb stared.
“That means you didn't.”
“No.”
“Why?”
Roman looked at me.
Then back.
“Because I had built a house where people handled everything before it reached me.”
Caleb frowned.
“That’s dumb.”
“Caleb.”
Roman raised one hand.
“He’s correct.”
Interesting.
Caleb explained the fake messages.
Whoever used my phone knew my basic routine.
Knew Mrs. Adler.
Knew Caleb had school.
But they did not know us.
The first text said:
I need to go away for a while. Be good for Mrs. Adler.
Caleb immediately knew.
I never called her Mrs. Adler in private.
She was Miss Ruth.
Second:
I love you.
Wrong.
Not enough.
Our phrase was always:
I love you more than all the stars.
Caleb showed Mrs. Adler.
She called the estate.
An assistant told her I had resigned.
She called again.
Then Roman’s head housekeeper.
Then security.
Eventually Roman saw the messages.
By then he had already discovered something stranger.
Estate camera footage showed me leaving Tuesday night.
Normal.
But my car remained in the employee lot.
The vehicle shown exiting with “me” inside belonged to Evelyn’s security driver.
Further review found me being escorted through a service corridor by two men.
My face partly hidden.
Walking under pressure.
Roman traced the vehicle.
Warehouse district.
Then waited outside the steel door only long enough to confirm Evelyn herself was involved and whether Caleb was in immediate danger.
The instant another man mentioned my brother, Roman entered.
I looked toward Caleb.
“You did good.”
He opened the metal box.
Inside were crumpled bills.
Coins.
A five-dollar note folded into a triangle.
“What is that?”
“Nothing.”
“Caleb.”
“Classified.”
I was too tired to argue.
Later.
Roman waited until Caleb left with Mrs. Adler before entering.
He stopped near the bed.
“You can tell me to leave.”
I almost smiled.
“That sounds difficult for you.”
“Extremely.”
“Sit.”
He did.
“Where is Evelyn?”
“Gone.”
“You chose me instead.”
“Yes.”
The answer came too quickly.
“Why?”
Roman looked genuinely confused.
“Because you were tied to a chair.”
Fair.
Then:
“Police are looking for her.”
I nodded.
“Those men?”
“In custody.”
“Talking?”
“One is.”
Good.
Then Roman placed a folder beside me.
“What?”
“Evidence recovered from Evelyn’s car.”
My employee identification.
Copies of my financial records.
A forged resignation letter.
Bank-transfer documents showing $1.8 million moved through an account opened using my information.
My stomach turned.
“I didn't—”
“I know.”
“How?”
“The account was opened while you were physically working inside my kitchen.”
He paused.
“And because I finally learned not to accept the first convenient story.”
Something in that sentence carried history.
I didn't ask yet.
Roman continued:
“There’s more.”
Of course.
“The men said Evelyn wasn't acting alone.”
My pulse changed.
“Who?”
“They don't know the name.”
Roman’s eyes became colder.
May you like
“Only that he works for me.”
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