Chapter 9: The Family Business
I called Natalie.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
On the third attempt, she picked up.
“What?””
Her voice sounded strained.
“Daniel found your name on an account.””
Silence.
“Natalie.””
“I can explain.””
“Everyone keeps saying that.””
“I didn't know what Bradley was doing.””
“You opened an account.””
“He asked me to.””
“Why?””
“He said it was for taxes.””
I laughed in disbelief.
“And you believed him?””
“He's my brother!””
“So that makes fake companies normal?””
“No!””
Her voice cracked.
“I knew something was weird. I didn't know he was stealing from you.””
“Where are you?””
“Driving.””
“Where?””
“A hotel.””
“Alone?””
A pause.
“My parents are with me.””
Of course.
“Put Barbara on.””
“No.””
“Why?””
“Because she's furious.””
“At me?””
“At everyone.””
I almost laughed.
“She should try being robbed.””
“Maddie, please.””
“Did money pass through the account you opened?””
“Yes.””
“How much?””
“I don't know exactly.””
“Try.””
“Maybe sixty thousand.””
I went completely still.
“Sixty?””
“Not all at once.””
“Where did it go?””
“Some to Dad's business. Some to Mom's company.””
“And the rest?””
“I don't know.””
“You signed the transfers.””
“Bradley told me where to send them.””
My hand tightened around the phone.
“Then you do know.””
Natalie began crying.
“I was scared.””
“Of what?””
“Losing everything.””
“What does that mean?””
She breathed shakily.
“Dad's company didn't just fail.””
I waited.
“He owes people.””
“What people?””
“Investors.””
“How much?””
“Almost half a million.””
My chest tightened.
“And Bradley decided my company would cover it.””
“Mom did.””
There it was.
“Barbara planned this?””
Natalie didn't answer.
“Natalie.””
“Yes.””
The word was barely audible.
I sat down.
“How long?””
“Months.””
I stared into the dark hotel room.
Barbara had insulted me.
Mocked my work.
Demanded my money.
And behind my back, she had apparently been planning how to use it.
“What exactly was the plan?””
“I don't know all of it.””
“Tell me what you know.””
Natalie sniffed.
“Mom believed that because you and Bradley were married, he had a claim to the company.””
“He doesn't own any shares.””
“I told her that.””
“What did she say?””
“That marriage made it complicated.””
I felt sick.
“Keep talking.””
“She wanted Bradley to convince you to invest in Dad's business first.””
“The two hundred thousand.””
“Yes.””
“And if I refused?””
Natalie went quiet.
“The loan.””
My stomach dropped.
“So tonight was a test.””
“I think so.””
Barbara had pushed me all day.
Maybe deliberately.
Bradley had demanded I apologize.
Then he humiliated me in front of everyone.
Was he trying to make me emotional enough to leave?
Or create evidence that our marriage was collapsing?
“Why this weekend?””
“I don't know.””
“Yes, you do.””
Silence.
“Natalie.””
“Because of Monday.””
“What happens Monday?””
She breathed in.
“Dad has a deadline.””
“For what?””
“A creditor.””
“How much?””
“Two hundred eighty thousand.””
“And if he doesn't pay?””
“They take the business assets.””
I closed my eyes.
The numbers were finally lining up.
Two hundred thousand from me voluntarily.
If that failed, three hundred fifty thousand through the forged loan.
Enough to rescue Harold and leave extra money for whatever Bradley planned next.
“Where are your parents right now?””
“In the room next door.””
“And Bradley?””
“He stayed behind.””
“At the lake house?””
“No.””
My eyes opened.
“Where did he go?””
“I thought he went after you.””
My heart began pounding.
“He doesn't know where I am.””
Natalie became quiet.
Then she whispered, “Oh.””
I stood.
“Call him.””
“What?””
“Call Bradley right now.””
“Why?””
“Find out where he is.””
She put me on hold.
I immediately called Claire on my second phone.
She answered.
“Maddie?””
“Check the warehouse cameras.””
A few seconds passed.
Then I heard her typing.
“Loading now.””
“Is anyone there?””
Another pause.
“Maddie.””
Her voice changed.
“What?””
“Someone entered the main warehouse twelve minutes ago.””
My skin went cold.
“Who?””
“I can't see his face yet.””
“Which access code?””
“None. The rear emergency entrance was opened manually.””
I grabbed my keys.
“Call security.””
“Already doing it.””
“Do not go there yourself.””
“I won't.””
Claire moved between camera feeds.
“Wait.””
“What?””
“I've got him.””
My stomach tightened.
“Is it Bradley?””
“No.””
I stopped.
“Then who?””
Claire was silent for several seconds.
“Maddie, there's a second person.””
“Who?””
“I recognize her from the company Christmas party.””
My mind raced.
“Claire, tell me.””
She zoomed the camera.
Then she whispered the name.
“Natalie.””
I stared at my phone.
Natalie was still supposedly waiting on my other line.
Then she came back.
“Maddie?””
I said nothing.
“Bradley isn't answering.””
I looked at the warehouse camera feed Claire had sent me.
A woman in Natalie's coat was walking through my warehouse beside a man.
“Natalie.””
“Yes?””
“If you're at a hotel with your parents…”
My voice became very quiet.
May you like
“…then who is wearing your coat inside my warehouse right now?””
The line went dead.
