Chapter 8

Dr. Carter adjusted his expensive suit before taking a seat inside the lawyer's office. The lawyer closed the file on his desk and removed his glasses.

"What can I do for you, Doctor?"

Dr. Carter smiled politely. "I've come about Ashley's inheritance."

The lawyer frowned. "What about it?"

"I'd like to speed up the transfer."

"The law doesn't work that way."

Dr. Carter leaned forward. "Ashley has been missing for weeks. And everyone believes she's dead. In the next two weeks I'll be announcing her dead to the media. 

"That is different from being legally declared dead."

Dr. Carter slid a thick envelope across the polished desk.

The lawyer glanced at it but didn't touch it.

"I believe this should compensate you for the inconvenience."

The lawyer looked back at him, "Are you attempting to bribe me?"

Dr. Carter chuckled. "I'm simply asking for your cooperation. There must be something you can do."

"There isn't. The company, estates, everything belongs to Ashley unless the court rules otherwise."

"And if the court does?"

"Then the will decides."

Dr. Carter's smile disappeared. "What if the will changes?"

The lawyer stared at him. "It cannot."

Dr Carter pushed the envelope back across the desk.

"Our meeting is over" the lawyer announced. 

Dr. Carter remained seated.

The lawyer pressed a button beneath his desk. "My secretary will show you out."

Dr Carter said with gritted teeth, "You'll regret this."

"I doubt it."

Without another word, Dr. Carter stormed out, his face was dark with rage.

Half an hour later, he arrived at an abandoned warehouse hidden behind several shipping containers near the docks.

Unlike the warehouse recently raided by the police, this operation remained untouched.

Boxes filled with illegal Lolly X lined the shelves while armed guards patrolled every entrance.

One of the guards approached him. "Boss."

Dr. Carter nodded. "Bring me three reliable men."

Minutes later, three heavily built men stood before him. Dr. Carter placed a thick bundle of cash onto a wooden table.

"I have a job."

The tallest man picked up the money. "What do you need?"

Dr. Carter's voice was calm as he began, "There's a lawyer."

He pulled a photograph from his pocket and laid it beside the cash, "I don't want him dead. I want him frightened. So frightened that he dares not reject my offer the next time I go to him."

The second man smiled. "We can do that."

Dr. Carter looked each of them in the eye "Break a few bones if necessary. Destroy his confidence. But leave him alive."

The men nodded. Without another word, they picked up the photograph and disappeared. 

Dr. Carter watched them leave. "If money won't change his mind..."

A cruel smile slowly spread across his face.

"...fear will.”

********

Every bartender, waitress, cleaner, and server who had worked the night of Hunter Western's return stood in a nervous line facing the management office.

Three managers stood to one side.

Hunter stood in front of them with Mason. His expression was calm, but his eyes were cold.

The general manager cleared his throat. "Mr. Western, this is everyone who worked that evening."

Hunter slowly scanned every face. "I'll only ask once."

His deep voice filled the room. "Who tampered with my drink?"

Silence. No one moved. No one even breathed loudly.

Mason stepped forward with a file in his hand "We already reviewed the security footage. We know one of you did it.”

Several employees stiffened.

Still, no one spoke.

Hunter folded his arms. "If no one comes forward, every employee who worked that night will be terminated before sunset."

The room erupted. "What?"

"You can't do that!"

"I have children to feed!"

"I didn't do anything!"

The managers exchanged uneasy glances but said nothing. 

Hunter remained unmoved. "If the guilty person refuses to speak, all of you will bear the consequences."

A young waitress suddenly burst into tears.

She pointed a trembling finger toward another woman standing at the far end of the line. "It was her!"

Every head turned.

The accused waitress's eyes widened. "What?"

"I saw you drop pills in Mr. Western's drink before serving him."

"You liar!" The lady gasped. 

"You poured something into his whiskey."

"I did not!"

The two women began shouting over each other. Hunter raised one hand and instantly silence returned.

He looked directly at the accused waitress. "Did you drug me?"

"No!" Her answer came too quickly. "I swear I didn't."

Hunter didn't blink. "Security."

Two large guards immediately stepped forward. The waitress tried to step back. "What are you doing?"

"Hold her."

The guards grabbed both of her arms.

She struggled, "I didn't do anything!"

Mason pulled out his phone. "I'll call the police."

The waitress's face turned completely white, "No!"

Hunter watched her carefully. "You have one chance."

She looked from Hunter to the security guards before her face collapsed. "...I did it."

One of the bartenders cursed under his breath. The managers stared at her in disbelief.

Tears rolled down the waitress's face. "I didn't even know what it was."

Hunter's jaw tightened. "What do you mean?"

"A few days before that night..." She sniffled. "...someone started texting me."

"Who?"

"I don't know."

"They used different numbers every time. They knew I worked here. They told me you would visit."

Hunter exchanged a glance with Mason.

The waitress continued crying. "They said all I had to do was put the pills into your drink. When I refused at first, they threatened my family."

Hunter's expression darkened. "What happened after that?"

"They sent me money."

"How much?"

"Twenty thousand dollars."

"They also sent the drug through a courier. I swear I never met them."

"I never even heard their voices."

She reached into her apron pocket with trembling fingers.

"Here's my phone..."

One of the guards retrieved it for her.

"The messages are still there."

Hunter took the phone and began scrolling through the conversation. Every message had come from different anonymous numbers.

He handed the phone to Mason. "Can you trace it?"

Mason nodded confidently. "I'll have my cybersecurity team work on it immediately."

Hunter looked back at the frightened waitress. "If you're telling the truth, then someone paid you to destroy your life because you're in deep trouble."

She broke down completely "I'm sorry. I was desperate."

Hunter remained silent. He simply turned toward Mason.

"Anything else?"

Mason slipped the phone into his pocket. "One thing. The courier company that delivered the package to her. We found the remaining in the trash where she threw it,” she nodded towards the lady. 

"And?"

"I found the business account that paid for the delivery. It leads to Miller Incorporated."

Hunter's eyes narrowed. "Miller Inc..."

"I'll pay them a visit tomorrow morning."

Hunter and Mason walked toward the exit while the frightened waitress collapsed into a chair, sobbing uncontrollably.

She had confessed. But whoever had hired her was still out there.