Chapter 7: The Prescott Who Betrayed His Own Family
“Mom, please don't let him in.””
Emily's fingers dug into my wrist as the hospital intercom repeated the announcement.
An unidentified man was waiting at the emergency entrance. He had asked for Colonel Victoria Hart and claimed to possess information about Ethan Prescott.
I looked at Emily.
“Do you know who it is?””
She shook her head, tears shining in her eyes.
“I don't know. But Ethan's father knows about the video. If his family finds out I sent it to him, they'll—”
She stopped.
“Sweetheart, they'll what?””
“Ethan said his father was the only person in the family who could make him afraid.””
That was interesting.
For two years, Emily had described the Prescotts as a family that operated by a single rule: Margaret gave the orders, and everyone else obeyed.
If Ethan feared his father, then perhaps the family wasn't as united as it appeared.
I called Dana.
“An unidentified man has arrived asking for me. He claims to have information about Ethan.””
“Don't meet him alone,” she said immediately.
“We're five minutes away. Have security keep him in a public area.””
“Understood.””
I ended the call and spoke to the hospital security supervisor.
“Please have him wait in the consultation room near the emergency entrance. Two officers should remain present, and nobody is to disclose Emily's location.””
The supervisor nodded and left.
Emily stared at me.
“Mom, what if it's a trick?””
“Then we'll find out without giving him access to you.””
I adjusted her blanket and checked that the door was secured.
Less than ten minutes later, a hospital officer escorted a man into the consultation room across the corridor.
He was in his late sixties, with silver hair, a dark overcoat, and a face that looked as though sleep had abandoned it years ago.
I recognized him from the photographs Emily had shown me.
Richard Prescott.
Ethan's father.
The founder of Prescott Development Group.
The man whose name appeared on hospital wings, university buildings, and charity foundations across North Carolina.
He looked older in person. His shoulders sagged, and his right hand trembled slightly as he removed his gloves.
“Colonel Hart,” he said.
“Thank you for agreeing to see me.””
“I haven't agreed to anything yet. Why are you here?””
“Because my wife has gone too far.””
He glanced toward the hallway.
“Is Emily safe?””
“She's receiving medical care. You won't be seeing her without her permission.””
He accepted that without protest.
“I understand.””
I sat opposite him.
“Start talking.””
Richard placed a thick envelope on the table.
“My son has been using our family's money, influence, and connections to conceal crimes for years. My wife helped him. I knew there were problems, but I convinced myself I could contain them without exposing the company.””
“Problems?”” I repeated.
“My daughter is covered in bruises.””
His face tightened.
“I know.””
“Then don't insult me with vague language.””
He lowered his eyes.
“I learned yesterday that Ethan had locked Emily inside the guesthouse. I ordered him to release her.””
“After three days?””
“Yes.””
“And when she escaped?””
“Margaret told me Emily had suffered another breakdown. I didn't believe her, but I didn't know where Emily was.””
I leaned forward.
“You're telling me you knew your son was dangerous, yet you left my daughter in his house?””
Richard flinched.
“No excuse I offer will make that acceptable.””
For the first time, I believed he understood the seriousness of what he'd done.
It didn't make me trust him.
He opened the envelope.
Inside were printed emails, financial statements, and several photographs of the estate.
“I began collecting these records after Claire disappeared,” he said.
“I suspected Ethan had lied about what happened to her. When Rachel Brooks vanished, I became certain the matter was bigger than a family dispute.””
“Why didn't you go to the police?””
“I tried. A detective I trusted told me there wasn't enough evidence. Two weeks later, someone leaked my private correspondence to the press. The story portrayed me as an unstable old man trying to destroy my own family.””
“Convenient.””
“Very.””
He pulled out a photograph.
It showed Ethan standing beside a dark-haired man outside a commercial building. The man wore a badge clipped to his belt.
“Who is that?”” I asked.
“Deputy Chief Alan Whitmore. He was responsible for coordinating security during several Prescott Foundation events. He also helped Margaret arrange private meetings with local officials.””
“Is he involved in the disappearances?””
“I can't prove that. But he received payments from companies connected to the foundation.””
I examined the documents.
Some payments were labeled consulting fees. Others appeared to have passed through shell companies.
The records needed independent verification, but they offered investigators something concrete to follow.
“Why come here now?”” I asked.
Richard's expression changed.
“Because Emily sent me a file.””
My pulse quickened.
“What file?””
“A video she copied from Ethan's computer. It arrived through an encrypted account last night.””
“Did you open it?””
“Yes.””
“What did you see?””
He stared at the tabletop.
“I saw my son standing inside the guesthouse. He was arguing with Claire.””
“And?””
“Claire told him she had evidence that could put Margaret in prison. Ethan told her nobody would ever believe her.””
Richard swallowed.
“Then Margaret entered the room carrying a syringe.””
I felt the muscles in my jaw tighten.
“Did she inject Claire?””
“The recording cuts off before I can tell.””
“Where is the file now?””
“I made three copies. One is with my attorney. One is stored in a secure location. The third is here.””
He reached into his coat and produced a small encrypted drive.
I didn't take it.
“You'll give that to the investigators.””
“Of course.””
“And you'll tell them everything you know, including anything that makes you look guilty.””
Richard nodded slowly.
“I expected that.””
“Good. Because if you leave anything out, I'll consider you another Prescott trying to control the story.””
He placed the drive on the table.
Then he said something that made me reconsider the entire conversation.
“Colonel, Ethan isn't the person who frightens me most.””
“Your wife?””
“No.””
His voice dropped.
“Margaret is dangerous, but she has a weakness. She believes everyone can be bought. Ethan is worse because he believes people are disposable.””
I stared at him.
“Then why is he still free?””
“Because he has protection inside the system. And because I helped build the system he uses.””
Before I could respond, Dana entered with Marcus and two federal investigators.
Richard stood.
“Agent Brooks, I assume you've been briefed.””
“I've been briefed enough to know you have a great deal of explaining to do.””
She took the encrypted drive and instructed another investigator to document the transfer.
Then she looked at Richard.
“Where is Rachel?””
“I don't know.””
“Where is Claire?””
“I don't know that either.””
“Then what do you know?””
Richard hesitated.
“I know Margaret plans to move someone tonight. I received a message from her this morning telling me to stay away from the estate.””
Dana's expression hardened.
“What did it say?””
He pulled out his phone.
The message read:
If you interfere again, you'll never see your son alive.
I stared at him.
“Your son?””
Richard nodded.
“Ethan has a younger half-brother. Nathan. He's been missing for three days.””
The room fell silent.
Emily had never mentioned another brother.
Dana looked toward the hospital corridor.
“Could Nathan be the person being held in the basement?””
Richard shook his head.
“No. Nathan is the person who helped Rachel disappear.””
Then he looked directly at me.
“And if Margaret discovers where he went, she won't stop until everyone connected to him is dead.””
A federal investigator entered before anyone could respond.
“Agent Brooks, we've received a transmission from the Prescott estate's surveillance system. The footage shows a vehicle leaving the property through a service road twenty minutes ago.””
“Who was inside?””
The investigator hesitated.
“The driver appears to be Ethan Prescott.””
Dana stood.
“Where is he going?””
The investigator looked at the screen.
“According to the vehicle's navigation history, he's heading toward Mercy General Hospital.””
Richard went white.
“He knows Emily is here.””
I was already moving toward the door.
Because if Ethan Prescott was coming for my daughter, he would find out that the woman standing between him and Emily wasn't someone he could intimidate with a family name.
May you like
She was a mother who had run out of reasons to be afraid.
And this time, I wasn't going to let him reach her.
