Chapter 4 - The Woman Who Knew Where Delaney WasBy morning, Elsie's fever had finally begun to fall.
The doctor told Rowan she was responding to treatment.
He almost cried from relief.
Micah, however, refused to sleep unless Rowan remained beside him.
So Rowan stayed.
At 9:15 a.m., Marcus returned.
He brought a woman with him.
“This is Naomi Grant.”
She was a private investigator.
Rowan looked at her.
“What did you find?”
Naomi placed a folder on the table.
“Your ex-wife isn't at a lake cabin.”
“I know.”
“She left Nashville four days ago.”
“Where?”
“Memphis.”
Rowan frowned.
“Why?”
“She met with someone.”
“Who?”
Naomi slid a photograph across the table.
Rowan stared.
Delaney was standing outside a hotel.
Beside her was Graham Pike.
The man from Micah's description.
Rowan's pulse accelerated.
“Why would she meet him?”
Naomi looked at Marcus.
Then back at Rowan.
“Because he paid her.”
“How much?”
“Twenty-five thousand dollars.”
“For what?”
Naomi opened another file.
“Information about your company.”
Rowan sat down.
His children had been neglected.
His custody documents had been forged.
And now his ex-wife was selling information about his business.
“How long?”
“Almost a year.”
Rowan stared at the evidence.
“Why?”
Naomi hesitated.
“Because Graham Pike believes your father stole something from him.”
“My father?”
“Yes.”
Rowan remembered childhood summers.
His father had been wealthy, intimidating, and secretive.
But Rowan had never known why.
“What did he steal?”
Naomi shook her head.
“We're still investigating.”
Micah suddenly appeared in the doorway.
“Dad?”
Rowan turned.
“Hey, buddy.”
Micah walked over.
He looked at Naomi.
“Is she police?”
“No.”
“Are you going to find Mom?”
Naomi answered gently.
“Yes.”
Micah stared at the photograph on the table.
His face went pale.
“That man.”
Rowan stood immediately.
“You know him?”
Micah nodded.
“He came before.”
“When?”
“Lots of times.”
Rowan crouched.
“What did he do?”
“He asked Mom if she had found the papers.”
“What papers?”
Micah shook his head.
“I don't know.”
Then his expression changed.
“He was scared of someone.”
“Who?”
Micah whispered:
“Grandpa.”
Rowan froze.
“My father?”
Micah nodded.
“Mom said Grandpa was the reason Dad didn't know the truth.”
Rowan's mind raced.
His father had been dead for four years.
Whatever secret existed had survived him.
And now someone was willing to destroy Rowan's family to recover it.
Then Elsie's doctor entered.
“Mr. Mercer?”
Rowan turned.
The doctor smiled faintly.
“She woke up.”
Rowan's entire world stopped.
He rushed inside.
Elsie opened her eyes.
“Daddy?”
Rowan took her hand.
“Yes.”
She blinked.
“You came.”
“I'll always come.”
She smiled weakly.
Then whispered:
“Mommy said you weren't supposed to find us.”
Rowan's heart sank.
“Why?”
Elsie looked toward the door.
“She said the bad man would be angry.”
“What bad man?”
May you like
The little girl closed her eyes.
“The one who wanted Daddy's house.”
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