All Chapters of The mysterious Billionaire's Wife; a lost heiress.: Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

(Robert POV)Federal holding smelled like disinfectant and desperation.I stood outside the interrogation room where Richard sat, watching him through the one-way glass. He looked calm. Too calm. Like a man who still believed he held all the cards.Beside me, DA Walsh crossed her arms. "He's been asking for Mia for the last thirty minutes. Won't say a word about the boy's location otherwise.""Then we wait for her." I checked my watch. 11:47 a.m. Thirteen minutes until Richard's original deadline."Mr. Lud, I don't like this." Walsh's voice was tight. "He's manipulating the situation. Even in custody, he's controlling the narrative.""I know.""If we let your wife in there…""She's coming regardless of what we allow." I turned to face her. "Richard knows that. He's counting on it."Walsh's jaw worked. "Then we wire her. Audio and video. And I want agents in the room.""He won't talk if there are agents present.""Then we don't get the boy's location." Her voice hardened. "I won't risk

( Mia POV)The drive home from the Grand Plaza should have felt like victory.Richard was in custody. Nel was safe in the back seat between Elizabeth and me, his small hand gripping mine like I might disappear if he let go. Robert sat in the front with the driver, his phone buzzing constantly with messages he ignored.But something felt wrong.I kept glancing at Elizabeth, studying her profile as she stared out the window. She hadn't said much since we'd left the hotel, just held Nel close and murmured reassurances that sounded more like she was convincing herself than comforting him."Mom?" I said softly. "Are you okay?"She turned to look at me, and for the first time, I really saw her.Dark circles under her eyes. A fading bruise along her jawline that makeup couldn't quite hide. The way her hands trembled slightly even as they held Nel."I'm fine," she said, but her voice was hollow."You don't look fine.""Mia, please. Not now." Her eyes darted to Nel, then back to me. A warning.

(Robert POV)The news came in waves over the next forty-eight hours.First, Marcus Chen. The accountant who'd "discovered" the documents in Richard's office was found dead in his apartment. Apparent suicide, the police said. It had been a single gunshot to the head. Dennis called at 3 pm. to tell me."Suicide?" I repeated, already knowing it wasn't."That's what they're calling it. But Robert, the guy had a wife, two kids, and a promotion coming. No history of depression. No financial troubles.""Richard got to him.""I think so. But there's no proof. No forced entry. No signs of struggle."I hung up and stared at the ceiling of my office, where I'd been camping out for two nights straight. Sleep felt impossible when Richard was out there, circling like a predator.The second call came twelve hours later.Thomas Herrera. One of Richard's former business partners who'd testified against him during the initial investigation. Got involved in a car explosion in his driveway. His wife and

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(Mia POV)(Twenty minutes earlier)The warehouse door stood open like a mouth waiting to swallow me whole.I stood frozen at the threshold, every instinct screaming to turn back. To call Robert. To wait for help.But the video played on repeat in my mind, Elizabeth's terrified eyes, the knife against her throat, Richard's calm voice promising death.'Come alone, or she dies.'I stepped inside.The darkness was suffocating. My eyes struggled to adjust, making out shapes of rusted machinery, broken conveyor belts, shadows that could be anything or anyone."Mom?" My voice echoed, too loud in the oppressive silence.No response.I moved deeper, each step feeling like walking toward my own execution. My phone was off, tucked in my pocket. Jake was outside somewhere, hidden. But I'd never felt more alone.A light flickered on ahead. Weak. Yellow. Illuminating a small area in the center of the vast space.And there she was.Elizabeth. Tied to a chair. Gagged. Blood on her face."Mom!" I ran