Chapter 5 - The Woman Behind Tessa
Tessa disappeared before sunrise.
By noon, the police were looking for her.
By three, federal investigators had opened an inquiry into Kessler Strategic Partners.
By five, Reid's stock had fallen thirty-one percent.
I sat in my father's office watching the numbers move.
I expected satisfaction.
Instead, I felt tired.
My father noticed.
“You don't have to enjoy this.”
“I don't.”
“Good.”
He closed the laptop.
“Revenge is useful only if you know when to stop.”
I looked at him.
“You've been waiting four years to say that.”
“Yes.”
I almost smiled.
Then Nolan entered.
“We found Tessa.”
“Where?”
“Boston.”
My father stood.
“Where?”
“Your old apartment.”
My heart stopped.
“My apartment?”
“Yes.”
We drove there immediately.
The building had been empty for years.
I hadn't been inside since my wedding.
The door was unlocked.
We entered.
Everything was covered in dust.
Except one room.
My old bedroom.
Someone had been there recently.
On the bed sat a laptop.
Nolan opened it.
A video file was playing.
Tessa appeared on screen.
But she wasn't alone.
Beside her sat Victor Hale.
My father's former business partner.
I looked at my father.
He went still.
Victor spoke first.
“You should never have married her.”
Tessa looked nervous.
“I didn't know she was the heir.”
Victor slammed his hand against the table.
“You were supposed to find out.”
“I tried.”
“You failed.”
Tessa began crying.
Victor leaned closer.
“Reid was useful. Audrey was the objective.”
My blood turned cold.
I watched the recording.
“What objective?”
My father didn't answer.
Victor continued.
“Once Audrey married Reid, Bellamy Holdings would become vulnerable.”
Tessa whispered:
“And Warren?”
“Warren would eventually die.”
I froze.
My father stared at the screen.
Victor smiled.
“And when he does, Audrey inherits.”
Tessa looked terrified.
“What if she discovers the trust?”
“Then we make her look unstable.”
I whispered:
“They planned my father's death.”
My father closed his eyes.
The recording continued.
Victor opened a file.
Inside were photographs.
My father.
His car.
His house.
His doctor.
His security detail.
Everything.
Then Victor said something that made my blood run cold.
“The accident is already arranged.”
My father stared at the screen.
“What accident?”
Nolan's face changed.
“Sir.”
My father turned.
“What?”
Nolan pulled out his phone.
“We received a report thirty minutes ago.”
“What report?”
“Your car was tampered with.”
Silence.
My father looked at me.
For the first time since I returned to Boston, I saw genuine fear in his eyes.
“Get the car away from the estate.”
Nolan nodded.
Too late.
A crash sounded outside.
Everyone turned.
We ran to the window.
Smoke rose from the driveway.
One of the security vehicles had exploded.
My father grabbed my arm.
“Down!”
The window shattered.
Glass flew across the room.
I fell.
My father covered me.
Nolan shouted into his radio.
“Lock down the estate!”
Sirens filled the air.
I looked at my father.
He was bleeding.
“Dad.”
He looked at me.
“I'm fine.”
“You're bleeding.”
“It's nothing.”
I helped him stand.
Then Nolan rushed into the room.
“Sir!”
“What?”
“We found the shooter.”
My father stared at him.
“Where?”
May you like
Nolan's face was grim.
“Inside the estate.”
