Chapter 6 - The Truth Beneath the Clinic
The investigation expanded immediately.
State environmental officials were called.
Federal investigators arrived.
The contamination discovery made headlines.
Harbor Light was temporarily evacuated.
But Emily refused to abandon the clinic.
She moved the patients into temporary accommodations.
Donors returned.
Former patients began telling their stories publicly.
The clinic became more than a building.
It became a symbol.
Grant’s attorney claimed the contamination had been fabricated.
Silas Blackwell remained hidden.
Then Paige returned.
She came to Emily’s apartment late at night.
“I know where he is.”
Emily stared.
“Blackwell?”
Paige nodded.
“How?”
“Grant told me.”
“Where?”
“A private island.”
Emily frowned.
“Where?”
“Off the coast of Georgia.”
Vincent immediately began checking the information.
But before they could move, Paige added:
“He’s not alone.”
“Who is with him?”
She hesitated.
“Grant.”
Emily froze.
“Grant was supposed to be arrested.”
“He was.”
“Then how?”
Paige looked terrified.
“Someone helped him.”
The next morning, Grant disappeared from custody.
Three officers were suspended.
One was found dead.
Another fled the state.
The situation became dangerous.
Emily wanted to run.
Vincent refused.
“You are not hiding.”
“I’m not hiding.”
“You are staying somewhere safe.”
“No.”
“Emily.”
“I spent years letting men decide what I was allowed to do.”
Her voice shook.
“I’m done.”
Vincent looked at her for a long time.
Then nodded.
“All right.”
They flew to the island.
What they found was an abandoned estate.
No Grant.
No Blackwell.
Only files.
Thousands of them.
Emily recognized Harbor Light’s name.
She opened one folder.
It contained photographs of her mother.
Another contained Emily.
Taken at fifteen.
At college.
At nursing school.
After her wedding.
Someone had been watching her family for decades.
Then she found Grant’s file.
Inside was a psychological profile.
His weaknesses.
His financial debts.
His ambition.
His relationship with Emily.
He had been recruited.
Not by Blackwell directly.
By someone close to Blackwell.
A person called The Broker.
Emily looked at Vincent.
“Who is The Broker?”
“I don’t know.”
A voice came from behind them.
“You do.”
They turned.
Grant stood in the doorway.
He looked exhausted.
A gun rested at his side.
But his face was different.
Not confident.
Afraid.
Emily stared.
“You kidnapped yourself?”
Grant shook his head.
“They were going to kill me.”
“Good.”
He flinched.
“I deserve that.”
“You locked me in a cellar.”
“I know.”
“You broke my wrist.”
“I know.”
“You tried to steal my mother’s clinic.”
“I know.”
“So why are you here?”
Grant lowered the weapon.
“Because I found out who Blackwell is working for.”
Vincent stepped forward.
“Who?”
Grant looked at Emily.
“Your mother’s old partner.”
Emily’s breath caught.
“My mother had partners?”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
Grant whispered the name.
“Daniel Hart.”
Emily stared.
“My uncle?”
Vincent’s face went rigid.
Daniel Hart had disappeared fifteen years earlier.
Everyone thought he had left the country.
Grant continued.
“Your uncle financed the original redevelopment scheme.”
Vincent shook his head.
“That’s impossible.”
“It isn’t.”
Grant pointed to the files.
“Daniel wanted the waterfront.”
“Why?”
“He knew about the contamination.”
Emily realized.
He had planned to acquire the land cheaply before the truth became public.
Her mother stopped him.
That was why the clinic mattered.
That was why the land had been protected.
Her mother had blocked her own brother.
Daniel had spent years waiting for another chance.
“Where is he?”
Grant swallowed.
“Here.”
A slow clap came from the hall.
A man walked into view.
Older.
Silver-haired.
Elegant.
Daniel Hart.
Emily stared at the uncle she had not seen since childhood.
He smiled.
“Hello, sweetheart.”
Vincent stepped forward.
“You.”
May you like
Daniel laughed softly.
“I missed you too.”
