Chapter 7 - The Truth Behind Violet’s Disappearance
Beckett waited until evening.
He hated waiting now more than ever.
Claire's revelation sat in his mind like a blade.
A letter.
Three days before Violet disappeared.
Something threatening enough that Claire believed it had influenced everything.
When Violet finally sat beside Celeste after dinner, Beckett closed the door.
“What letter?”
She went still.
That was enough.
“There was one.”
“Claire talks too much.”
“Claire kept you alive for eight months. I’m inclined to forgive her.”
Violet looked toward the bassinet.
“It's old history.”
“No.”
“Beckett—”
“No one threatens you and becomes old history.”
Her head turned sharply.
“I never said it was a threat.”
“You didn't have to.”
He sat opposite her.
“Tell me.”
Violet sighed.
“Three days before our last dinner, an envelope was delivered to the clinic.”
“From whom?”
“No return address.”
“What did it say?”
She hesitated.
“Violet.”
“It said I should enjoy being engaged while it lasted.”
His expression hardened.
“What else?”
“That you would always choose Vale Therapeutics over me.”
“That's opinion, not a threat.”
“There was more.”
Her fingers tightened.
“It said if I ever gave you a reason to divide your attention, people with far more to lose than I understood would remove the distraction.”
Beckett's blood went cold.
“Exact wording?”
“Almost.”
“You kept it?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“I thought it was cruel nonsense.”
“Until our dinner.”
Violet nodded.
“When you said what you said about children, the letter suddenly felt different.”
“You thought I sent it?”
“No.”
“Good.”
“I thought someone knew you well enough to predict you.”
That hurt more.
“Why didn't you show me?”
“You were dealing with the Arclight preliminary acquisition.”
He laughed bitterly.
“So you didn't tell me about a threat because I was busy?”
“I didn't know it was a real threat.”
“And after you discovered the pregnancy?”
“I was terrified.”
“Did anyone contact you again?”
Violet looked away.
Beckett stood.
“Violet.”
“Yes.”
His face changed.
“How many times?”
“Twice.”
“What did they say?”
“The first message came through a blocked number.”
“Message?”
“A photo.”
“Of what?”
“My apartment building.”
Beckett went completely still.
“And the second?”
“After my twelve-week scan.”
“What?”
“A copy of the appointment time was placed under my door.”
Rage moved through him with frightening calm.
“Someone knew.”
“Yes.”
“And you didn't call the police?”
“I did.”
“What happened?”
“They said nothing directly criminal had occurred.”
“Did you tell Claire?”
“Yes.”
“That is why you moved.”
“Yes.”
“Twice.”
“Yes.”
Beckett turned toward the window.
He had spent eight months believing Violet had hidden because she feared him.
Partly true.
But someone else had made that fear worse.
Someone with access to his world.
Information.
Resources.
Knowledge of Violet's pregnancy.
His thoughts immediately moved toward Vale.
“Who knew we argued?”
“No one.”
“Staff?”
“Maybe your driver.”
“He wasn't there.”
“Restaurant employees.”
“No.”
He thought harder.
“Our wedding planner knew I was upset.”
“Who?”
“Madeline Shaw.”
Beckett turned.
“Shaw?”
“Yes.”
“Related to Warren Shaw?”
“His daughter.”
The merger CEO.
Beckett's stomach hardened.
Madeline had become their planner through a recommendation.
At least that was what Beckett had been told.
“Did you ever tell her about children?”
Violet frowned.
“Once.”
“When?”
“The week before the letter.”
There it was.
Beckett took out his phone.
“Who are you calling?”
“Security.”
“Don't.”
He stopped.
“Why?”
“Because Celeste is here.”
He understood.
Violet did not want chaos.
He sat again.
“I’ll investigate quietly.”
“Beckett.”
“Quietly.”
“You cannot start destroying people's lives because of a suspicion.”
“I won't.”
She gave him a look.
He sighed.
“I’ll try not to.”
Despite everything, Violet smiled.
Then Celeste made a sound.
They both turned instantly.
Beckett noticed Violet notice him.
“See?” he said.
“What?”
“I can prioritize.”
“You reacted to a squeak.”
“It was a serious squeak.”
Violet laughed softly.
The moment broke the tension.
Later, after Violet fell asleep, Beckett sent one message to Mason.
Find everything connecting Madeline Shaw to Violet during the last year. Do not alert Warren. Do not use company systems.
The reply came thirty seconds later.
How illegal are we comfortable getting?
Beckett typed:
Legal. Mostly.
Mason replied:
That “mostly” is why our lawyers drink.
Beckett looked at Celeste.
Then his eyes fell to the ring hanging around Violet's neck.
Someone had helped turn his worst moment into eight months of silence.
He would find out who.
But what Beckett did not yet know was that the anonymous letter had not been written to protect the merger.
It had been written because someone knew a secret about his own family—
May you like
a secret his father had buried for twenty-nine years.
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