Chapter 5 - THE LION
The lion cuff links had been presented at the company’s centennial celebration.
Noah owned one pair.
The other eleven belonged to directors who had served Vale International for more than twenty years.
Any one of them could have been inside the library.
Only four had attended the charity dinner that evening.
Arthur Crane, the company’s chief financial officer.
William Hawthorne, the board chairman.
Samuel Price, general counsel.
And Victor Lang, Noah’s godfather.
Victor had known Noah since birth.
He had carried him at his father’s funeral.
He had taught him to negotiate his first contract.
Noah refused to believe Victor could be involved.
Then he remembered Mia’s warning.
Scarlett had not acted alone.
At the estate, Marcus opened Mia’s safe.
The blue folder was gone.
Nothing else had been disturbed.
He checked the security system.
Someone had accessed the office thirty-seven minutes after the ambulance left.
The visitor used Noah’s executive access code.
Only Noah and Victor knew that code.
Marcus called immediately.
“The folder is missing.”
“Check the cameras.”
“The office camera was disabled.”
“When?”
“Two hours before the charity dinner.”
Noah looked toward the hospital window.
Victor had left the dinner early, claiming he had a headache.
“Find Victor Lang.”
“I already called his driver.”
“He never returned home.”
Noah’s phone rang again.
This time, Victor’s name appeared.
Noah answered.
“Where are you?”
Victor’s voice was warm and familiar.
“I heard about Mia.”
“Is the baby all right?”
“Where are you?”
“I’m at my country house.”
“That’s a lie.”
Silence followed.
Then Victor sighed.
“You sound upset.”
“Someone stole evidence from Mia’s safe using my access code.”
“I suppose you think I did it.”
“Did you?”
“Noah, you are frightened.”
“Fear makes people suspicious.”
“Scarlett attacked my wife.”
“I saw the recording.”
“I know.”
The answer came too quickly.
Noah’s hand tightened around the phone.
“How do you know what the recording shows?”
Victor did not respond.
In the background, Noah heard the low whistle of a train.
Then a station announcement.
Victor was not at his country house.
He was inside Grand Central Terminal.
“Victor.”
“Do not board that train.”
Victor’s voice changed.
“You should focus on keeping Mia alive.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means the truth is more dangerous than you understand.”
The call ended.
Noah contacted the police.
By the time officers reached Grand Central, Victor was gone.
His abandoned phone was found inside a trash can.
Beside it was a torn page from the Golden Hearts Foundation ledger.
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Across the bottom, written in red ink, were four words.
MIA WAS NEVER THE TARGET.
