Flee, page 2
“What the fuck do you care? You haven’t worried about me since I was nine and mom died. Fuck, you probably didn’t worry about me then. She did.”
“I always worried about you.”
“Could have fucking fooled me,” Trevor spat. He hated his father. All he’d ever done was disappear. Trevor and his older brother, Clyde, had to learn to take care of themselves. And they did. By taking what they wanted.
Their father never gave a shit. Not until Trevor no longer needed a father.
“One day you’re not going to be able to get my money,” his father said, almost sounding sad at the admission.
“Because you’ll be dead? Yeah, I’m counting the days, old man.”
His father grimaced. He swung his legs over the side of the bed and eased himself upright. He walked across the small room to the dresser where he kept his cash. He unlocked the safe and retrieved rolls of bills. He counted it quickly, then locked the box again and turned to Trevor.
“I’m sorry I was such a horrible father.”
“Whatever. When I inherit all your money, I’ll appreciate the fact that you only cared about your company and never about me.” Trevor turned to leave.
“You’re not going to inherit my money,” his father whispered.
Trevor stopped halfway to the door. He had to have heard him wrong. “What did you say?”
His father straightened when Trevor turned back to him. He held himself upright, but the exhaustion on his face betrayed the false bravado of his posture. “I said you’re not going to inherit my money. I changed my will.”
“The fuck you did.”
“It’s already done, Trevor. I can’t have you destroying my company. You’ll—”
Trevor was on his father so quickly he didn’t even remember moving. He wrapped a hand around the man’s throat and guided him to the bed. “You never cared about me. That company was all that ever mattered to you.”
His father shook his head, the movement just enough to break Trevor’s hold. His father sank to the bed, knocking a pillow onto the floor. “That’s not true. I loved you and your brother. I would have done anything for you two.”
“Except give me your company. You are treating me no better than a dog in the street, rejecting me and refusing to give me what I’ve earned.”
“How did you earn it? You’ve never worked there a day in your life!”
“I earned it by being born. I earned it by surviving. I earned it by sharing your blood. And I will have what I earned.”
Trevor picked up the pillow from the floor. He held it between his hands and pressed it over his father’s face.
The old man’s feet kicked. He fought against the pillow. He tried to scream, but the pillow drowned out the sound. He grabbed at Trevor’s hands, but Trevor held still.
Until his father stopped fighting.
Trevor removed the pillow from his father’s face. Terrified eyes stared up at him. Vacant. Hollow. Dead.
It was the most loving look his father had ever given him. The one Trevor would remember for the rest of his life.
He fluffed the pillow and put it behind his father’s head. He positioned him so it looked like he was sleeping. Then Trevor left the room with his money and a promise to himself that he would get what he deserved. Every last penny.
2
Gage fell to his chair and put his head in his hand. “I was just there two days ago. I just saw him.”
“I know, Mr. Stevens. And I am sorry. It’s clear you cared about Mr. Davis,” the care facility administrator said. Gage had already forgotten her name. It wasn’t as important as the news of Mr. Davis’s passing. “The doctor said he went peacefully, likely when he was sleeping.”
“Have you notified his son?”
“Yes, sir, we have.”
“Okay. Thank you. When can I make arrangements to collect his belongings?”
“Um, well, his family—”
“I am the executor of the estate, and I will need to collect Mr. Davis’s belongings.”
“I wasn’t aware of that.”
“Has his son already come to collect items?”
“Uh, no, not to my knowledge, but when I spoke to him, I asked him to let me know when he would like to.”
“Did he give you a time?”
“No. He just said he’d be in touch.”
“Okay, good. I will come this afternoon. I will also claim Mr. Davis’s body and take care of the funeral arrangements.”
“We will need to see a copy of the will naming you as executor, Mr. Stevens.”
“I’d expect nothing less. I’ll be there at one.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
Gage hung up the phone and immediately pulled up another number. He needed help. Now.
“Patrick,” the captain of the police department said.
“Marcus, I need a favor.”
“That’s not like you. What can I do for you, Gage?”
“I have a client who just passed away. His son was written out of his will two days ago.”
Marcus whistled. “Cutting it close.”
“He was. And he had his reasons.” Gage’s tone didn’t hide his opinion, and Marcus picked up on it.
“Reasons I should be aware of?”
“Reasons I would assume you’re already aware of.”
“Um, okay. So, what do you need from me?” Marcus’s tone was no longer friendly. The police captain was in charge.
“As the executor of Mr. Davis’s estate, I need to collect his belongings. I am going to Angel’s Grove at one today. Is there a way you could send me an officer or two to help me collect the man’s things and take them to his home?”
“Mr. Davis? As in Robert Davis? Owner of Davis Developments?”
“The same.”
“And Mr. Davis’s son is Trevor Davis. His son Clyde died years ago.”
“Yes,” Gage said, knowing he was giving Marcus just enough information without violating attorney-client privilege.
“Okay. I will be there myself, and I’ll bring another officer with me. Maybe two. Do we need to secure Mr. Davis’s home?”
“I’m not sure as of yet.”
“Well, you sure know how to make for an interesting day.” Marcus chuckled mirthlessly.
“Don’t I know it,” Gage said wryly.
“I’ll see you in a few hours, Gage.”
“Thanks, Marcus.”
Gage hung up and called the moving company he always used when he had to relocate a client. Andy agreed to be there at one when Marcus and Gage would arrive. Everything was set.
Gage just hoped Trevor Davis didn’t show up and try to get something that didn’t belong to him.
“Pretty easy assignment,” Marcus said to Gage as they watched the last of Robert Davis’s belongings get loaded onto the small moving truck.
“Cross your fingers it stays that way,” Gage told him.
Andy closed up the truck and confirmed the address with Gage, then climbed into the van with his employee. Gage and Marcus watched as the truck pulled out of the lot, a police car following them.
“No Trevor Davis today,” Marcus said.
Gage shook his head. “No, but he’ll show up. He’s not going to be happy Robert wrote him out of the will when he finds out. He’s probably going to be angry when he shows up here and finds his father’s things are gone.”
“I’ll keep an officer stationed here until after the funeral.”
Gage nodded. “Probably a good idea. Especially since the new beneficiary is an employee.”
“Of this place?” Marcus hitched his thumb toward the one-story brick structure. The sprawling campus it was on made for a peaceful environment, but it wasn’t exactly a happy place. The people who lived there were at the end of their lives. They were well cared for, but they were still dying. And they all knew it.
“Robert was a very generous man, and he made it seem as though this nurse was someone who would do well with his company and fortune.”
“Do you know the nurse?”
Gage shook his head. “Dawn Patterson. I’ve never met her.”
Marcus’s brows went up.
“I take it you know her?”
Marcus shook his head. “Common enough name that it might not be her, but about eighteen months ago, we responded to an overdose. Woman’s daughter called. Found her mom passed out and blue. Saved her mother’s life, but can’t imagine at what cost.”
“What do you mean?”
“The kid was only twelve. Couldn’t have been easy.”
“Shit.” Gage scrubbed his face. “Do you know what happened to her after that?”
Marcus shook his head. “I hope she turned her life around and came here to work, but I’m not sure. Why would Davis have given everything to someone he didn’t know that well? I thought he was only here a year?”
Gage shrugged. “He was. And no clue, but it sounds like something he would have done. He gave back more than anyone knows. And he would have seen someone with a past like that, especially if she turned her life around, as someone he wanted to help.”
“I hope she did turn her life around. And I hope Trevor Davis doesn’t find out who she is.”
“Will is already filed at the courthouse. Original is safe, too. There’s no way he can contest it. No way he’ll win.”
“Doesn’t mean he won’t try something.”
“Hopefully, he’s smarter than that.”
Marcus gave Gage a look that said he clearly didn’t think that was possible.
Gage chuckled. “Okay, well, hopefully she can take care of herself. Or is married to someone who can.”
Marcus nodded. “We can hope. Ready to follow that truck?”
“Yep. Let’s go.”
Gage went to his SUV and followed Marcus out of the parking lot. Mr. Davis’s house wasn’t too far from Angel’s Grove, and when they arrived, the truck was parked and open, and the two officers were walking out of the house.
“Everything good?” Marcus asked the officers.
They exchanged a glance. “Front door was unlocked when we got here. We went through the house. It looks clear, but big houses like this could have all kinds of places for people to hide.”
“You agree with Murphy?” Marcus asked the other cop.
The second one nodded. “I do. We checked the garage, and the vehicles are cool to the touch, but that doesn’t mean someone hasn’t been here for a while.”
Marcus turned to Gage. “Do you know who has access to the property?”
“Employees and his son, to my knowledge. Mr. Davis hasn’t lived here for a year, but he kept up the property. There’s a caretaker who lives here. He could be out somewhere, though.”
“Can you give him a call?” Marcus asked.
Gage nodded. He called Cole, the caretaker, who answered on the first ring.
“Mr. Stevens. Is everything okay?”
“Yes, Cole. I’m at the estate with Mr. Davis’s belongings. The front door was unlocked when we arrived. The police officers I’m with asked me to confirm everything is okay.”
“Oh, no. I apologize, sir. A package was delivered this morning, and I went out the front to retrieve it. Phone rang when I was on the porch, and I rushed back inside. I must have forgotten to check the door.”
“But everything is okay?”
“Yes, Mr. Stevens. Absolutely. I’m at the grocery store at the moment, but I will be back in about thirty minutes if you’d like to wait. Or I can leave now and be back in ten minutes.”
“No, I think we’re okay. Just wanted to double check. Have you seen Mr. Davis’s son?”
“No,” Cole breathed. “Thankfully. I worried that was why you were calling.”
“Are you aware of the change in the will?”
“Yes, sir. Mr. Davis called me to let me know. It’s still hard to believe he’s gone. We just spoke a few days ago. He sounded good.”
“I agree. Thank you, Cole. I know I’ll see you soon.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you.”
Cole hung up, and Gage looked at his phone. Something was off, but Gage couldn’t put his finger on what it was.
“Are we good?” Marcus asked quietly.
Gage looked up and smiled. “Yes. Sorry. The caretaker said he grabbed a package this morning and must have forgotten to lock the door.”
“Let’s get this stuff inside,” Marcus told the others.
Gage watched the activity as Mr. Davis’s life for the last year was returned to the home he’d lived in for the decades before. When Robert made the choice to leave his home, he knew he wouldn’t ever see it again. But he also felt staying there wasn’t an option for him. His health had been declining for years, and after a fall a little over a year ago, he accepted that he needed more regular care.
He considered hiring someone to come to his home, but he didn’t want to put that on Cole and the other staff. Instead, he made the decision to move to a long-term care facility that was staffed with people who would be able to help him.
Gage spoke to Mr. Davis at least once a week for the last year. He genuinely liked the man. Gage knew Robert had regrets, but he was trying to make up for what he considered his failures. He ran out of time to do more.
“All set, Gage,” Andy said, bringing Gage paperwork to sign that everything had been delivered.
Gage signed and shook Andy’s hand. He handed Andy a check for twice the quoted amount, something Gage knew Robert would have done if he were there. “Thank you. It means a lot that you were able to jump on this today.”
“Happy to help.”
Andy and his guys loaded up their truck and left. Gage turned his attention to Marcus and the two officers he was speaking to.
“Thank you all for being here,” Gage said. “It appears as though it was an unnecessary precaution.”
“No such thing,” one of the officers said.
“Officer Pryce Murphy is studying to be a detective. His girlfriend is Edie Warren,” Marcus said.
Gage knew the name from the papers and the story of what she’d been through. “Edie Warren? It’s good to know she’s found some happiness.”
“Thank you,” Pryce said. “She is still haunted by what she went through. What Trevor put her through.”
“Trevor?” Gage barked. “Did you say Trevor?” Gage looked between Pryce and Marcus.
“Edie doesn’t know Trevor’s last name, but she said that’s the name of the man who had her,” Marcus provided.
Gage rocked back on his heels. “What are the odds?”
Marcus pressed his lips into a smile. “Not a very common name, is it?” Marcus looked up at the house they were all standing in front of. “Strange that a very wealthy man, who just died, has a son named Trevor.”
“And that he just changed his will,” Gage said.
Pryce and the other officer both raised their brows.
“What are the odds?” Marcus repeated Gage’s words.
A vehicle coming up the driveway stopped the conversation. They all watched as the car crept toward them and the garage opened. Gage waved when he recognized Cole behind the wheel.
“That’s the caretaker,” he told the others.
The three police officers relaxed.
“We might need a patrol,” Marcus told the other cops.
“On it,” the one whose name Gage didn’t know said.
“Thanks, Foster. I’ll see you two back at the station,” Marcus said, dismissing them before the caretaker came out of the garage.
Foster and Pryce went to their vehicle and waved before heading back down the driveway and out of sight.
“Foster and Murphy are two I know I can trust. Invaluable. And involved with all of this.”
Gage nodded, understanding what Marcus meant. They would look into Trevor Davis and find what Gage didn’t have proof of.
“Mr. Stevens, I apologize for the oversight. Was anything taken?” Cole asked, approaching them with a quick step.
“All good, Cole. Just a concern. We’ve moved the furniture back into Mr. Davis’s rooms. I am hoping to get the funeral set for Saturday.”
“That quickly?” Cole asked.
Gage nodded. “Mr. Davis already prepaid for everything and has it all set up. I just need to confirm it can be done in two days. He didn’t want things to linger. I’ll be in touch with funeral arrangements once I have confirmation, if you’d like to attend.”
“Of course. Mr. Davis was a very kind man. I wish he’d felt like he could stay here. I always felt guilty enjoying this large home when he wasn’t able to.” Cole looked up at the house wistfully. “Do you know what’s going to happen to the home?”
Gage shook his head. “No, I don’t. The beneficiary of the estate will have that choice.”
“And do you know who that is?”
Gage exchanged a glance with Marcus. Marcus raised his brows, indicating it was up to Gage what he shared.
“I do, but until I’ve had a chance to speak with them, nothing is confirmed.”
“Understandable. Hopefully it’s someone who will honor this home and Mr. Davis in the way he deserves.”
“I’m sure it is. Mr. Davis wouldn’t have selected the person if not.”
Cole smiled. “True.”
Gage and Marcus spoke to Cole a few more minutes before Cole excused himself to bring in the groceries. Marcus and Gage said their goodbyes and left the estate.
Gage had work to do. And so did Marcus.
“He’s dead?” Dawn squeaked. Her voice wobbled and rose sharply. “When?”
“Wednesday. Night shift found him,” Ali said. “He was nice. We’re all upset.”
Dawn nodded, unable to stop the emotions from welling up. Mr. Davis wasn’t just her favorite patient, he was someone she thought of as a friend. Someone she trusted and liked speaking to. And he was gone. She was alone.
Dawn’s throat was tight. She tried to remember the last time she spoke to Mr. Davis. When the memory came to her, she shivered. It was the day his son showed up. “Wait, night shift found Mr. Davis?”
Ali looked up from her paperwork. “Yeah, why?”
“When I left, he was with his son.”
“Okay?”
