Wyatt gripped the bedrail.
“The attack happened tonight,” he said.
“Yes.”
“Then the transfer was filed before Sadie arrived at the house.”
“Yes.”
Detective Beckett’s expression became grim.
“That suggests premeditation.”
Mr. Grayson lowered his voice.
“It suggests they expected Sadie to be unable to challenge the documents.”
My right hand began trembling.
Unable.
Dead?
Unconscious?
Disfigured and broken enough to disappear?
I remembered my mother’s laugh.
**Let’s see if Wyatt still loves you with that face.**
Maybe the attack had never been only about Wyatt.
Maybe Melanie’s obsession with him had been the perfect excuse.
A story they could use to disguise a much older, uglier motive.
Wyatt saw the realization on my face.
“They wanted the trust,” he whispered.
“And they wanted me out of the way.”
Detective Beckett stepped into the hallway and made a call.
Within minutes, officers were sent back to my parents’ house with instructions to secure computers, financial records, and any documents connected to Melrose Residential Partners.
Then Beckett received a message.
His gaze moved from the screen to me.
“The old man has been found.”
“Where?”
“Two blocks from the house. A patrol officer found him sitting at a bus stop.”
“Who is he?”
“He says his name is Walter Pike.”
The name meant nothing to me.
“Why was he in their house?”
“He claims he used to work for your grandfather.”
My pulse quickened.
“Bring him here.”
“That may not be possible.”
“Why?”
“He’s being transported to another hospital. He appears to have been drugged.”
Wyatt’s hand tightened around mine.
