Chapter 8 - Samuel’s Delivery
Samuel finally admitted.
Laura contacted him six months ago.
At that point she had regained enough memory to suspect Hale records were manipulated.
She distrusted Corinne.
Distrusted Martin.
Distrusted Ethan’s corporate circle.
Samuel became messenger.
He brought music box into mansion.
Empty.
Later Laura secretly entered and added card.
Samuel also installed temporary camera at Laura’s request.
Why camera in Maisie’s room?
Laura wanted know whether Corinne was leaving toddler unattended during nights.
She worried.
That camera produced footage later used as threat.
Someone hacked it.
Samuel shut it down after receiving anonymous access alert.
But by then recording existed.
So threat video did not prove physical intruder.
Could have been stolen remotely.
That dramatically narrowed danger.
Corinne had assumed someone stood in nursery.
Maybe nobody did.
Still frightening.
Then investigators traced anonymous threat to a VPN account purchased with prepaid card.
Store camera showed buyer.
Nathan Hale.
Ethan’s jaw tightened.
Nathan admitted sending message.
Why threaten Maisie?
He claimed he never intended harm.
He wanted Laura to stay away from Hale lawsuit.
“He used my daughter.”
“Yes.”
“What did he mean ‘next dose goes to Maisie’?”
“A bluff.”
“You referenced drug exposure.”
“Yes.”
Nathan feared Laura’s lawsuit would reveal his facility continued treatment after learning pharmacy error.
He also feared Carter Holdings would sue over linked property sale.
He wanted Laura silent.
Threat was criminal.
But he had not changed pills.
He had not caused initial illness.
He exploited accident.
And he did not know Laura’s current location.
Then Corinne’s biggest concealment became clear.
After receiving threat, she kept Laura away because she believed Maisie could be drugged.
Once investigators proved threat was remote bluff, Corinne still did not tell Ethan.
Why?
By then she had another reason.
Laura no longer wanted immediate return.
Not because she stopped loving them.
Because she learned Ethan had begun legal abandonment proceeding.
Ethan stared.
“I never filed abandonment.”
Martin looked away.
He had.
On Ethan’s behalf.
Why?
To regularize Maisie’s custody and insurance after Laura vanished.
Ethan had signed general petition bundle without reading all attachments.
One page stated:
Spousal absence presumed voluntary.
Ethan had not understood implication.
Laura later saw it.
She believed Ethan had legally declared she abandoned family.
That broke her trust.
Corinne knew misunderstanding.
Did not correct.
Why?
“Because I was angry at Laura.”
“For what?”
“She blamed me for everything.”
“Some of it was your fault.”
“I know.”
Corinne had started wanting Laura to stay away.
Not for money.
For control.
She convinced herself Ethan and Maisie were better without chaos.
Then Laura’s live monitor image changed again.
A person entered room.
Only torso visible.
Dark jacket.
Placed envelope beside Laura.
Then camera cut.
Police traced monitor relay signal for eight seconds before it disappeared.
Location:
Cedar Hill Women’s Residence.
Thirty-two miles away.
Ethan stood.
“I’m going.”
Corinne blocked doorway.
“No.”
He stared at her.
“What now?”
“If Laura is there, she may not want you arriving with police.”
May you like
Ethan’s voice was ice.
“She gets to tell me that herself.”
