Chapter 13 - The Fixer Disappears.
Aaron Pike failed to report to work Monday morning.
His company phone was found in a trash bin outside a highway rest area.
His apartment had been emptied of clothes, computers, and personal documents.
State investigators would not tell Dana whether they considered him a suspect, witness, or fugitive.
They did ask Nora one question.
Had Pike ever contacted her directly?
She said no.
Then she remembered the anonymous photograph of the boxes being removed from the house.
The sender claimed to be someone Marcus had fired.
That had been Caleb.
But Caleb insisted he sent only the photograph and the message identifying himself.
He had not sent the flash drive.
Someone else had.
Nora returned to the handwritten note that came with it.
ASK VANESSA WHAT MARCUS PROMISED HER AFTER THE BABY WAS BORN.
The paper carried the Hale Communities logo.
Dana’s investigator compared the handwriting with available corporate forms.
No match.
The mystery sender remained hidden.
Meanwhile, Marcus changed tactics.
His attorneys offered a settlement.
Nora would receive the marital house, a seven-million-dollar payment, and full coverage of the baby’s medical expenses.
In exchange, she would withdraw allegations of financial misconduct, agree that the courthouse incident was accidental, and sign a lifetime confidentiality agreement.
Dana read the proposal aloud.
Nora stared at the number.
Seven million dollars was more money than she had ever controlled in her life.
Marcus knew that.
“He thinks I’ll take it.”
“He thinks everyone has a number,” Dana said.
Nora looked at the clause about the courthouse incident.
“If I sign this, Vanessa gets to say I fell.”
“Yes.”
“And Marcus can say my father pressured the system.”
“Yes.”
Nora slid the agreement back.
“No.”
Dana did not smile.
She simply nodded and wrote REJECTED across the first page.
That evening, Marcus called from a blocked number.
Nora answered only because Dana had arranged automatic recording through counsel-approved procedures.
“You’re making a mistake,” Marcus said.
Nora looked out the apartment window.
“I’ve made enough of those.”
“You think Ruiz cares about you?”
“Yes.”
The confidence in her own answer surprised her.
Marcus paused.
“You think your father cares?”
Nora’s hand tightened around the phone.
“This isn’t about him.”
“It has always been about him.”
“No, Marcus.”
She breathed slowly.
“You made it about him because you need every fight to be between powerful men.”
Silence.
Then Marcus’s voice changed.
The warmth disappeared.
“You have no idea what happens if the company collapses.”
“Then tell the board the truth.”
“You are the reason they’re doing this.”
“No.”
Nora looked at the recording indicator.
“You are.”
Marcus hung up.
Five minutes later, Dana called.
“Do not leave the apartment.”
Nora’s pulse jumped.
“Why?”
“Vanessa just contacted my office.”
“What does she want?”
“She says she wants immunity.”
“From what?”
Dana’s voice lowered.
“She says Marcus ordered Aaron Pike to create a file that would make you look dangerous if you ever tried to leave.”
Nora sat down slowly.
“What kind of file?”
Dana hesitated.
May you like
“A fake one.”
“And Vanessa says Pike still has it.”
