Chapter 4 - THE SHADOW IN THE MIRROR
Ten minutes later, the iron gates of the estate opened to admit a convoy of dark silver SUVs.
Inside the quiet nursery on the third floor, Daniel gently laid Noah down on a plush crib, applying a cold compress to the small bruise on his forehead. A private pediatrician, whom Daniel had summoned en route home, carefully examined the child.
"He's going to be fine, Daniel," Dr. Aris whispered, setting his stethoscope down. "A minor concussion and soft-tissue bruising, but no fractures. Your catch saved his life."
"Thank you, Doctor," Daniel said softly, gently stroking Noah's dark curls until the toddler drifted off into a deep, exhausted sleep.
In the hallway outside, Marcus—Daniel’s chief of security and most trusted confidant—stepped out of the service elevator. He carried a heavy, encrypted laptop.
"Boss," Marcus said softly, glancing toward the nursery door. "The local precinct sheriff just arrived at the front gate. Margaret called them while you were upstairs."
Daniel’s face remained unreadable. "What did she tell them?"
"She claims you assaulted her in her own home and brought an unregistered child into the estate to invalidate her husband's probate will," Marcus replied.
A grim, dark smile touched Daniel’s lips. "Good. Let her think her political connections still work in this city."
Daniel walked over to the floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the rainy courtyard below. Down on the driveway, two sheriff's cruisers were idling near Margaret’s silver Bentley, their red and blue lights flashing against the wet pavement.
"She doesn't realize why I let her stay in this house for fifteen months," Daniel murmured.
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"Why did you, boss?" Marcus asked.
"Because Margaret didn't act alone," Daniel said coldly. "She didn't have the technical skill to fabricate Julian’s death certificate or freeze the offshore accounts. Someone inside our own board of directors gave her the green light to eliminate Noah."
