Chapter 27 - THE BODY THAT WASN’T AMBROSE
The hospital morgue had already released Ambrose’s body to a private funeral home.
That sentence made Rachel swear for twelve straight seconds.
Emily counted.
Matthew looked impressed.
The funeral home was owned by an Ambrose subsidiary.
Of course it was.
By the time state police obtained a warrant, the hearse was gone.
The paperwork said the body had been transferred for immediate cremation at a facility two counties away.
The crematorium said no body ever arrived.
Emily stared at the investigator.
“So a billionaire got murdered, died in a guarded hospital, left the morgue, and vanished?”
The investigator rubbed his forehead.
“That is one way to phrase it.”
“It is the way it happened.”
“We are verifying.”
Matthew muttered, “Government word for suffering.”
The investigator heard him.
“I can still remove you from the room.”
Matthew raised his good hand.
Emily almost smiled.
Danielle’s audio file was authentic.
No detectable edits.
No location metadata.
But background sound contained a repeating mechanical bell.
Margaret recognized it.
“North Harbor drawbridge.”
They drove there with police this time.
No secret trips.
Emily had learned at least one thing.
Near the bridge, they found Danielle’s car parked behind a closed seafood warehouse.
Her purse was inside.
Her phone was gone.
So was she.
Nolan Price’s fingerprint was on the passenger door.
Blood on the driver’s seat belonged to Danielle.
Not much.
Enough.
Emily stood outside while investigators searched.
Margaret walked up beside her.
“You look like Evelyn when you’re angry.”
Emily stared at the river.
“People keep telling me I look like her.”
“You do.”
“I barely remember her.”
“I know.”
“Stop.”
Margaret winced.
Emily sighed.
“Sorry.”
“No. You’re right.”
They stood quietly.
Then Emily asked, “Why did you stay gone after Ambrose thought you were dead?”
Margaret looked toward the water.
“Because survival became a habit.”
“That sounds like Diane.”
Margaret’s mouth tightened.
“Diane stayed close to power. I ran from it.”
“Neither worked.”
“No.”
Emily looked at her aunt.
“Did you ever think about me?”
“Every birthday.”
“Did you ever almost call?”
“Hundreds of times.”
“But you didn’t.”
“No.”
Emily nodded.
“That mattered.”
Margaret’s eyes filled.
“I know.”
Emily let the silence stand.
No forgiveness speech.
No hug.
Just truth with nowhere to hide.
At 3:20 p.m., police found a hidden room beneath the seafood warehouse.
Inside were medical supplies, three wigs, two sets of fake identification, and a hospital-style prosthetic face mask.
Matthew picked up one passport photograph.
Graham Ambrose looked ten years older under the name GRANT AMES.
Emily’s stomach tightened.
“He planned this.”
Rachel nodded.
“Long before East Dock.”
A laptop on the desk contained an airline itinerary for Lisbon.
Departure: 11:45 p.m.
Private terminal.
Passenger: Grant Ames.
Emily looked at the clock.
Six hours.
The state investigator called federal authorities.
Matthew stepped aside to make another call.
Emily heard him say, “Ground every Carter Meridian aircraft within fifty miles.”
She turned.
“You can do that?”
“Yes.”
“All of them?”
“Yes.”
“How many?”
“Twelve.”
She stared.
“Your life is stupid.”
“I’ve had that thought.”
The airport alert went out.
Private terminals were locked down.
Border authorities flagged Grant Ames.
For the first time, Ambrose had fewer places to hide.
Then Rachel’s phone rang.
Her expression changed as she listened.
“What?” Emily asked.
Rachel lowered the phone.
“The competency judge issued a ruling.”
Emily stopped breathing.
“Arthur’s transfer is temporarily suspended.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means until the full hearing, you cannot exercise the fifty-one percent voting block.”
“Who can?”
Rachel’s eyes hardened.
“Your emergency proxy.”
Emily already knew.
“Diane.”
Rachel nodded.
At the exact same moment, Hale Systems’ board secretary sent a notice.
Diane Hale had called another emergency board meeting.
This time to approve a sale.
The buyer was not Carter Meridian.
It was a company called Ames Global Holdings.
May you like
Grant Ames.
Graham Ambrose’s new identity.
