Chapter 11 - The Photograph of Lily
I walked quickly toward the library, forcing myself not to run.
Lily was sitting in a window seat, safe, reading with the same attendant who had been assigned to her.
But the photograph meant someone had come close enough to watch her.
I asked Marcus to increase security without frightening guests or turning my granddaughter into the center of a spectacle.
Rebecca advised us to preserve the message and report the threat.
A sheriff's deputy arrived, collected the phone number and camera access records, and spoke privately with Lily's attendant.
There was no evidence of immediate physical danger, but the message crossed a line that none of us could ignore.
Daniel stood beside his daughter looking shattered.
"I brought her into this," he said.
"Then help protect her," I answered.
I told him to stop trying to mediate between me and Madison and start asking precise questions.
Where was the transferred money?
Who had authorized the forged documents?
What had Madison promised Vale?
By the time he finally reached his wife, his voice had changed.
"Come back to the residence," he said into the phone. "We're not pretending this is a family misunderstanding anymore."
Madison arrived in a dark coat and sunglasses, although the sun had already set.
She saw the deputy in the hallway and stopped.
"You called the police on me?"
"Someone photographed Lily and sent it as a warning," Daniel said.
Her mouth tightened.
"Adrian wouldn't do that."
The words escaped before she could stop them.
I watched her realize what she'd confessed.
"So you are working with him," I said.
She sat down heavily.
"I thought it was just a deal."
"A deal to steal my company?"
"A deal to get Daniel the life he deserved."
My son recoiled.
"Don't make this about me."
Madison looked at him with sudden fury.
"Everything I've done has been for you."
She reached into her handbag, pulled out an unsigned term sheet, and dropped it on the table.
The proposed fee for delivering control of Silver Pines was four million dollars.
Daniel stared at the number.
Then he saw the clause beneath it.
May you like
A clause assigning custody of Lily's education trust to an administrator named by Vale.
