Free Endangered: A Delecoeur Mystery #1 by Jenna Harte

because he
knew Digiteknic lost its contract with my company because of her influence.”
Max continued as the plausible scenario played out in his mind.
    “I don’t know about that. He keeps up on
business trends, so maybe.”
    “What’s his relationship with the owners
of Digiteknic?”
    “I don’t know.”
     “Think harder. Is he friends with Gavin
Shaffer?”
    “I don’t know, why?”
    “Because Gavin confronted Madeleine at
her talk only hours before her accident. Because Gavin is the heir apparent to Digiteknic
where Chas used to work,” Max explained.
    “I don’t see what you are getting at.”
    “I think Chas and Gavin conspired to
kill Madeleine. Maybe Chas promised Gavin a contract once I accepted Chas as my
son.”
    Julia shook her head. “Chas has no
reason to want Madeleine dead.”
    “He’d be the heir to the Delecoeur
fortune with Madeleine gone. He’d be the son of Max Delecoeur and have all
power and prestige that comes with that. But Gavin failed. So Chas had to do it
himself.”
    “No!” But her eyes betrayed that
statement. She was worried.
    “He was in the building the morning of
the shooting to see me. He knew I was expecting Madeleine for lunch. Tell me
Julia," Max grabbed Julia's arms again. "How late was he in meeting
you that afternoon?”
    Her eyes widened. “No, I don’t believe
it.”
    “How late was he?” he demanded.
    “He called and said he was held up and
would be 45 minutes late.”
    Max released her. She fell back a step
rubbing her arms where he'd grabbed her.
    “My, my isn’t this cozy?”
    They both turned to see Chas in the
doorway. “The reunion you've waited all these years for, mother. Is it all that
you hoped?”
    It was then Max noticed the gun in Chas’
hand.

Chapter Nine
     
    “I see she’s told
you about my relation to you.” Chas turned the gun on Max.
    Max's eyes narrowed. “Yes. I have to say
I’m disappointed.”
    Chas nodded. “No doubt I’m not the son
you would have wanted. But that’s not my fault. If my mother had been honest
and I had the upbringing I deserved, I wouldn’t be like this.”
    “You won’t get away with this,” Max
warned.
    “Maybe not. But it never hurts to try. I
have a pretty good plan.”
    “I doubt it,” Max said.
    “Sure it is. Even you suspected my
mother of killing Madeleine. I’ll just confirm that to the police. You killed
my mother in revenge and then killed yourself because you couldn’t bear the
thought of living without Madeleine. Oh, and I’ll show them proof that I’m your
son and inherit it all.”
    “You need to review your business law,
Chas. You won’t inherit the company. It’s publicly owned,” Max said, keeping
his eyes on Chas’ gun and hoping against hope that Madeleine stayed hidden.
    “I’ll settle for your personal assets
including your stock. Yes, that will be even better. You see, I don’t care
about the power. With the stock, I can let your board do all the work and I’ll
collect the dividends. I can live quite nicely on that.”
    “How do you intend to prove I’m your
father?”
    “Chas, no,” Julia said finally finding
her voice. “It's too much to risk. Max is not your father.”
    Both men looked at her. “That is, I
don’t know if he is. He could be…”
    “My god mother, how many men did you
screw around with?”
    “That’s not the point. The point is, you
could be wrong and you will have done all this for nothing.”
    “Not really. To answer your question
Max, you will write a statement acknowledging I’m your son.”
    “I’m sure it will be contested. It would
be suspicious for a document like that to show up right after my death. Right
after Madeleine's death. My attorneys would never allow it.”
    “I’ll take my chances.”
     
    ~~~
     
    Madeleine had been listening from the
back of the bathroom. Her heart had gone out to Max knowing it must be torture
to think he could be a father to a child he never knew about. But when Chas
walked in,