Chapter 11: The Person Behind the Wheel

Liam's POV

I spent the entire night staring at the surveillance footage.

There was no way around it anymore.

Pierce's car had been near Andy's school shortly before the accident.

The black sedan had followed the same route.

And Gwen had hired the security company that owned it.

I called the investigator first thing in the morning.

"I want to know who was driving that sedan."

"We're working on it," he replied. "But there's a complication."

"What complication?"

"The driver disappeared after the accident."

My heart sank.

"What about the drunk driver who hit Andy?"

"He's still in custody. But his statement doesn't match the evidence."

I sat forward.

"What did he say?"

"He claims someone offered him money to drive to your neighborhood that afternoon. He says he was already drunk when he got behind the wheel, but he doesn't remember who hired him."

My hands slowly curled into fists.

"Can I speak to him?"

"Not yet. The police are still questioning him."

I leaned back and closed my eyes.

Someone had arranged the vehicle.

Someone had arranged the route.

And someone had made sure a drunk man was behind the wheel.

The only thing I didn't know was whether the original target had been Andy.

Or me.

...

Third-Person POV

Gwen sat in her apartment, surrounded by unopened luggage.

She hadn't slept since the police showed her Andy's death record.

Her son's face kept appearing whenever she closed her eyes.

But the thing haunting her most was Liam's expression from the hospital.

He hadn't looked angry anymore.

He had looked empty.

Her phone rang.

It was Pierce.

"Gwen, we need to talk."

"About what?"

"About Liam."

She frowned.

"What about him?"

"He's investigating the accident."

Gwen's heart skipped.

"How do you know?"

"Because someone from the investigation came asking questions at the hospital."

Gwen stood up.

"Pierce, tell me the truth. Did you know anything about the accident?"

Silence.

That silence terrified her more than any answer could have.

"Pierce?"

"I didn't order anyone to hurt Andy."

Gwen's face went pale.

"I didn't ask whether you ordered it. I asked whether you knew about it."

Another silence.

"Pierce, what did you do?"

"I only told them the child had to be taken to the hospital if something happened. I never told them to kill him."

Gwen's knees weakened.

"Who is 'they'?"

Pierce didn't answer.

"Who is they?" she screamed.

The call ended.

Gwen stared at her phone in horror.

For the first time, she realized Pierce might have been using her desperation just as much as she'd been using her family's money.

...

Liam's POV

By noon, the investigator called again.

"We identified the driver of the black sedan."

I held my breath.

"Who is it?"

"A former employee of Gwen's company."

My stomach tightened.

"What's his name?"

"Daniel Reeves."

I searched the name immediately.

There were several employment records, but one detail stood out.

Daniel had worked directly under Gwen for almost two years.

And he'd resigned three days after Andy's accident.

"Where is he now?"

"We don't know."

I stared at the screen.

"Find him."

"We're trying."

"No," I said quietly. "I'll find him myself."

I grabbed my coat and walked out.

I wasn't going to wait for another report.

Not when every hour could mean another piece of evidence disappeared.

Before I reached the elevator, my phone buzzed.

It was an unknown number.

One message appeared.

"If you want to know what really happened to Andy, come alone."

A location followed.

I stared at it.

Then another message appeared.

"And don't tell Gwen."

My heart began pounding.

Someone knew the truth.

And they had decided to finally tell me.