Chapter 3 - The Price of a Child’s Breath
At 10:42 p.m., Daniel’s security team reached Maya’s mother’s apartment.
Lily was safe.
For the moment.
Daniel arranged for Maya’s mother and daughter to be moved to a secure apartment owned through one of his companies.
Maya resisted.
“I’m not taking charity.”
Daniel looked at her.
“This isn’t charity.”
“Then what is it?”
“Risk management.”
Despite everything, Maya almost laughed.
“You make helping people sound like a business transaction.”
“It’s the language I’m best at.”
Daniel handed her his phone.
“Call Lily.”
A small voice answered.
“Mommy?”
Maya immediately softened.
“Hi, baby.”
“Grandma says we’re having an adventure.”
Maya looked toward Daniel.
“Yeah. A little one.”
“Are you coming?”
“Soon.”
“Promise?”
Maya closed her eyes.
“I promise.”
Lily coughed.
The sound was light.
But Maya’s expression changed instantly.
Daniel noticed.
“Did you get my medicine?” Lily asked.
Maya couldn’t answer.
Daniel quietly took the phone.
“Hello, Lily.”
“Who are you?”
“Daniel.”
“My mommy’s boss?”
Maya stared at him.
Daniel said, “That’s right.”
“Mommy says you’re grumpy.”
Maya covered her face.
Daniel almost smiled.
“She’s probably right.”
Lily giggled, then coughed again.
“Mr. Grumpy?”
“Yes?”
“Can Mommy come home?”
Daniel looked at Maya.
“She will.”
“When?”
“Soon.”
“You promise?”
Daniel rarely made promises.
Promises created liabilities.
But this one came easily.
“I promise.”
He handed the phone back.
After the call, Maya whispered, “You shouldn’t promise children things you can’t control.”
Daniel looked at her.
“I don’t.”
Before she could respond, Ryan entered.
“We found the money.”
Daniel stood.
“What money?”
“The stolen medication wasn’t simply being resold.”
Ryan placed documents on the desk.
“Someone created artificial shortages.”
Maya frowned.
“For what?”
“To drive desperate families toward private brokers.”
Daniel understood immediately.
“They steal medication purchased for hospitals and pharmacies, then sell it back through unofficial channels at inflated prices.”
Ryan nodded.
“Sometimes five times the normal patient cost.”
Maya looked sick.
“They’re stealing medicine and selling it back to parents?”
“Yes.”
Daniel’s voice dropped.
“How much?”
“Potentially millions.”
“Who’s running it?”
Ryan hesitated.
“Frank Bennett’s name appears on several authorization chains.”
Daniel stared at him.
Maya looked between them.
“Frank is the man who called you earlier.”
Daniel said nothing.
Ryan continued.
“There’s more.”
“Say it.”
“Frank personally approved Sam Miller’s promotion.”
Daniel walked toward the window.
Frank had worked with him for nine years.
He had attended Daniel’s father’s funeral.
He knew the access codes to half of Foster Logistics.
Maya said softly, “Maybe he doesn’t know.”
Daniel turned.
“Frank knows everything that happens on my docks.”
His phone rang.
Frank.
Daniel answered casually.
“Where are you?”
“Pier Forty-Seven.”
“Sam?”
“Still missing.”
Daniel glanced at Ryan.
“Stay there.”
“Why?”
“I’m coming.”
Daniel ended the call.
Maya stepped forward.
“I’m coming too.”
“No.”
“The evidence is mine.”
“That’s precisely why you’re staying.”
“Mr. Foster—”
“Daniel.”
She stopped.
“What?”
“If we’re about to confront someone who threatened your child, you can stop calling me Mr. Foster.”
Maya folded her arms.
“Fine. Daniel. I’m coming.”
“No.”
“You don’t know Sam.”
“You do?”
“I met him.”
Daniel’s eyes sharpened.
“When?”
“Two weeks ago.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I didn’t trust you.”
Daniel actually looked offended.
“You worked in my home for eight months.”
“Exactly.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means I knew you were powerful. I didn’t know if you were good.”
The words landed harder than Daniel expected.
Ryan looked away.
Daniel said, “And now?”
Maya held his gaze.
“I’m still deciding.”
Daniel grabbed his coat.
May you like
“Then decide from the car.”
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