"Find Vanessa's former fiancé. I want to know where he is and whether he's still connected to her.""
Daniel ended the call and looked down at Catherine's letter.
His wife had tried to protect Ethan before he was born.
Maria had risked everything to save him.
And now, Daniel was finally beginning to understand the size of the danger surrounding his son.
But as he slipped Catherine's letter into his briefcase, Eleanor spoke again.
"There's one more thing you should know.""
Daniel turned.
"What?""
Eleanor hesitated.
"The trust amendment Vanessa attempted to submit three days ago wasn't designed to give her control of Ethan's money.""
He frowned.
"Then what was it designed to do?""
Eleanor slid one final document across the table.
Daniel read the heading.
Then he stopped breathing.
*APPLICATION TO REMOVE DANIEL WHITMORE AS ETHAN'S LEGAL GUARDIAN.*
Beneath the heading was a signature that looked exactly like his own.
And the proposed replacement guardian was Vanessa Whitmore.
Daniel stared at the guardianship application until the words blurred before his eyes.
Someone had forged his signature, submitted legal documents to remove him as his own son's guardian, and named Vanessa as the person who should take his place.
For a moment, he couldn't speak.
Eleanor Brooks sat quietly across the conference table, allowing him to absorb the implications.
Finally, Daniel looked up.
"How could anyone even attempt this?""
"By building a case that you were incapable of caring for your child," Eleanor replied.
"The application claims you have demonstrated reckless judgment, emotional instability, and an inability to provide a safe environment for Ethan.""
Daniel let out a disbelieving laugh.
"Reckless judgment?""
Eleanor tapped the document.
"There's an attached statement from a household employee claiming you ignored repeated warnings about Ethan's safety.""
"Which employee?""
"Maria Alvarez.""
Daniel shot to his feet.
"Maria never wrote this!""
"I assumed as much. The signature appears to have been copied from an employment document.""
He paced to the window.
Vanessa had accused Maria of endangering Ethan, knowing that the accusation could later be used to support a claim that Daniel's household was unsafe. If Maria's reputation was destroyed and Daniel was portrayed as a negligent father, Vanessa could present herself as the only suitable guardian.
It was a calculated plan.
And the attempt to push Ethan into the pool might have been intended to create the very emergency she could use against Daniel.
He turned back to Eleanor.
"Has the court accepted this application?""
"No. It was submitted but flagged because the supporting documentation contained inconsistencies. The hearing has not been scheduled.""
"Who submitted it?""
"Richard Hale's firm.""
Daniel closed his eyes.
Richard had advised his family for years. He had attended Catherine's funeral, helped arrange Ethan's trust, and assured Daniel that he would protect the child's interests.
Now the same man appeared to be helping someone take Ethan away from his father.
"Can we stop it?"" Daniel asked.
"Yes, but we must act quickly. I'll notify the court that the application is disputed and provide the original trust documents. You'll also need independent counsel.""
Daniel nodded.
"Do whatever is necessary.""
His phone vibrated.
Marcus had sent a message.
*We located Vanessa's former fiancé. His name is Grant Mercer. He owns Vantage Strategic Consulting. He's currently staying at a hotel in Dallas.*
Another message followed.
*There's more. Grant called Vanessa eleven minutes after the stroller entered the pool.*
Daniel stared at the screen.
Eleven minutes.
That meant Vanessa had contacted Grant before the security footage could have been reviewed or the family attorney could have intervened.
Daniel called Marcus.
"Do we have the call record?""
"Yes, sir. The number matches Grant's personal phone.""
"Get me his hotel address.""
"Already sent it.""
Daniel grabbed his briefcase.
"I'm going to Dallas.""
"Sir, you should let the police handle this.""
"I will. But I need to know what he knows before anyone has time to destroy more evidence.""
"Then let me come with you.""
Daniel agreed.
Two hours later, they arrived at the hotel where Grant Mercer was staying. Marcus had arranged for a detective from Houston to meet them there, and the three men waited in a quiet conference room near the lobby.
Grant arrived ten minutes later.
He was in his early thirties, tall and sharply dressed, with a silver watch and the easy confidence of someone accustomed to getting what he wanted.
When he saw Daniel, his smile faltered.
"Daniel Whitmore. This is unexpected.""
Daniel didn't offer his hand.
"I have some questions about Vantage Strategic Consulting.""
Grant glanced at the detective.
"Am I being accused of something?""
"That depends on your answers," the detective replied.
Grant sat down.
Daniel placed a copy of the trust amendment on the table.
"Why is your company connected to payments from my family's investment accounts?""
Grant barely glanced at it.
"You'd have to ask your financial department.""
"My financial department has no record of authorizing those payments.""
"Then perhaps your records are incomplete.""
Daniel leaned forward.
"Did you help Vanessa attempt to remove me as Ethan's guardian?""
Grant's expression changed.
"No.""
"Did you help her access my security system?""
"No.""
"Did you speak to her eleven minutes after my son was pushed into a swimming pool?""
Grant's face tightened.
"That's a private matter.""
The detective slid a printed call log across the table.
"These records indicate that you did.""
Grant looked at the page.
For the first time, his confidence seemed to weaken.
Daniel lowered his voice.
"Did Vanessa tell you what she was planning to do to my son?""
Grant stared at him.
"I didn't know she was going to put him in danger.""
The room fell silent.
Daniel felt his heart slam against his ribs.
"You just admitted you knew something was going to happen.""
Grant swallowed.
"I meant—"
"What did she tell you?""
Grant looked toward the detective, then back at Daniel.
"Vanessa said she needed a crisis. Something that would make you look incapable of protecting Ethan.""
Daniel's hands curled into fists beneath the table.
"What kind of crisis?""
"She didn't tell me exactly what she planned.""
"Did you know she intended to push a stroller into a swimming pool?""
"No!""
Grant stood abruptly.
"I swear to you, Daniel, I didn't know she'd go that far.""
The detective motioned for him to sit.
"Then explain the money.""
Grant rubbed his face.
"Vanessa said she was entitled to a share of the family assets. She told me Catherine had promised her financial security and that you were planning to cut her out.""
"That's a lie.""
"I know that now.""
Daniel's voice turned icy.
"You knew enough to help her move nearly two million dollars.""
Grant lowered his eyes.
"She told me the transfers were temporary. She said the money would be returned after the trust was reorganized.""
"And you believed her?""
"I wanted to believe her.""
Daniel stared at him.
Grant had been Vanessa's fiancé. He had loved her, or thought he had. Perhaps that was how she manipulated people: she found the weakness they were most ashamed of and convinced them it was loyalty.
"Where is the money now?"" Daniel asked.
"Most of it is in accounts connected to Vantage. I can provide the records.""
"Then you will.""
Grant nodded.
The detective began explaining the next steps.
But before the meeting ended, Grant looked directly at Daniel.
"There's something else.""
Daniel turned.
"What?""
Grant hesitated.
"Vanessa told me Catherine had discovered the transfers before she died.""
Daniel felt the air leave his lungs.
"What exactly did Catherine discover?""
Grant shook his head.