CHAPTER 9 — The Maid Nobody Noticed
The investigation focused on executives, doctors, and security officers.
Nobody paid attention to the quiet elderly housekeeper who had worked at the estate for nearly thirty years.
Her name was Martha.
She served tea.
Cleaned hallways.
Watered flowers.
To everyone else...
She was invisible.
When investigators questioned her, she simply smiled.
"I've been invisible my whole life."
Then she reached into her apron and placed a tiny flash drive on the table.
"I think you're looking for this."
The room fell silent.
"What is it?" Emily asked.
Martha looked toward Alexander.
"Insurance."
The flash drive contained recordings from hidden backup cameras Damien never knew existed.
Months before the helicopter crash, the videos showed Damien secretly meeting with a maintenance engineer.
Large bags of cash changed hands.
Another recording captured Damien ordering the destruction of aircraft inspection reports.
The final video froze everyone in the room.
Damien stood over Alexander's hospital bed shortly after the crash.
The billionaire was awake.
Barely able to move.
His eyes followed Damien.
Damien leaned close and whispered:
"Don't worry, cousin."
"No one will ever believe you were awake."
Then he ordered Dr. Warren to administer the first suppression injection.
The timestamp proved everything.
Alexander had regained consciousness two years earlier.
The coma had been manufactured.
Emily covered her mouth.
Even Alexander began to cry.
"I wasn't dreaming..."
"I heard every word."
Federal prosecutors immediately issued new charges:
Attempted murder.
Conspiracy.
Medical torture.
Fraud.
Corporate corruption.
Obstruction of justice.
A nationwide manhunt for Damien Blackwood began.
His face appeared on every television screen.
Airports.
Train stations.
Borders.
The richest fugitive in America had vanished.
But just before midnight, Emily received one final anonymous text.
Only six words appeared on her screen:
"He's watching you from nearby."
She looked up from the phone...
Across the street...
A man wearing a black hood slowly smiled.
It was Damien.
May you like
And he wasn't running anymore.
He was hunting.
