Chapter 8 - The Boy in the Red JacketCharles Ashford was in federal custody.
He had never understood ruthless.
Not until he watched Charles calmly order the death of Anna and Henry.
From that moment, Nate stopped thinking like a son.
He began thinking like an enemy.
Samuel secretly moved Henry away from the estate entirely.
Only Nate and Anna knew the new location.
Eleanor offered to help.
Nate did not forgive her.
But forgiveness and usefulness were different matters.
She gave him access to Charles’s oldest financial records.
More importantly, she gave him one name.
Agent Rachel Moreno.
Federal investigators had quietly suspected Ashford Foundation money laundering for years.
Claire had contacted Moreno two weeks before her death.
The case vanished after Claire died because all evidence disappeared.
Now Nate had the evidence Claire preserved.
Moreno agreed to meet.
But before Nate could leave, Charles moved first.
The manor security system locked down.
Doors sealed electronically.
Cell service disappeared.
Graham’s private security team replaced the normal guards.
Anna ran into Nate’s study.
“We’re trapped.”
The intercom clicked.
Charles’s voice filled the house.
“Nathaniel.”
Nate looked up.
“Come to the ballroom.”
“No.”
“If you want your mother alive, come downstairs.”
Eleanor was missing.
Nate and Anna descended through separate service passages.
The ballroom doors stood open.
Charles waited beside the fireplace.
Eleanor sat in a chair.
Graham stood behind her holding a gun.
Vanessa was near the windows.
For the first time in seven years, father and son faced each other.
Charles smiled.
“You look tired.”
“You look good for a dead man.”
Charles laughed.
“I taught you that humor.”
“You taught me a lot.”
Nate glanced at Eleanor.
“Let her go.”
“She made unfortunate choices.”
“So did Claire?”
Charles’s smile disappeared.
“She was emotional.”
“She was your daughter.”
“She threatened everything I built.”
“You murdered her over money.”
“Legacy.”
Nate stared.
Charles truly believed the distinction mattered.
“You created Henry.”
Charles seemed pleased.
“My masterpiece.”
Anna stepped from the shadowed doorway.
Charles turned.
For the first time, he looked surprised.
Anna’s face was white with fury.
“You stole my child.”
Charles sighed.
“Please don’t become sentimental too.”
“What did you do to me?”
“Something necessary.”
Nate lunged.
Graham raised the gun.
Anna screamed.
Charles lifted a hand.
“Not yet.”
Nate stopped inches away.
Charles looked at him.
“You think you’re morally superior because you publish charitable reports and let employees question you.”
“I think I’m morally superior because I don’t murder my children.”
Claire’s name hung between them.
Charles’s expression hardened.
“She forced my hand.”
“No. She exposed who you already were.”
A camera hidden in Nate’s jacket transmitted everything to Agent Moreno.
Or at least Nate hoped it did.
Charles stepped closer.
“Where is Henry?”
“Safe.”
“No one is safe from me.”
“You already lost.”
Charles smiled.
“Have I?”
The lights went out.
Gunfire exploded.
Anna pulled Nate behind a marble column.
Men shouted.
Glass shattered.
The emergency lights flashed red.
Someone had cut power to the entire estate.
Nate heard Eleanor scream.
He ran toward her.
Graham fired.
The bullet struck the wall beside Nate.
Then another gunshot sounded.
Graham fell.
Vanessa stood behind him holding a pistol.
Everyone froze.
Nate stared at his wife.
Vanessa’s hands shook violently.
Charles looked furious.
“What have you done?”
Vanessa began crying.
“I’m finished.”
Charles stepped toward her.
“You belong to me.”
“No.”
“You think Nathaniel will forgive you?”
Vanessa looked at Nate.
“I don’t expect him to.”
She pointed the gun at Charles.
“But Henry is innocent.”
Charles lunged.
The weapon fired.
The bullet struck Charles’s shoulder.
He crashed into a table.
Federal agents stormed through the north doors.
“FBI! Drop the weapon!”
Vanessa immediately lowered hers.
Charles laughed from the floor.
“You fools.”
Agent Moreno approached.
“Charles Ashford, you’re under arrest.”
Charles smiled through the pain.
“For what?”
“Murder conspiracy, kidnapping conspiracy, fraud, unlawful detention, assault—”
“You have recordings.”
“We have more than recordings.”
Charles looked at Nate.
Nate smiled.
“Claire’s files.”
For the first time, fear appeared in Charles’s eyes.
Then Moreno’s phone rang.
She listened.
Her expression changed.
“What?”
Nate immediately knew something was wrong.
Moreno looked at him.
“The protective team at Henry’s safe house was attacked.”
Anna stopped breathing.
Nate grabbed her arm.
Moreno continued.
“Samuel Brooks is injured.”
“Henry?”
Nobody answered quickly enough.
Nate’s voice cracked.
“Where is my son?”
Moreno looked toward the agents.
Then back at Nate.
“He’s missing.”
Charles began laughing.
Even bleeding on the ballroom floor, the old man looked victorious.
Nate turned toward him.
Charles whispered:
May you like
“I told you.”
“No one is safe from me.”
Related Stories
