Exposed to the CEO Behind the Mafia Mask

Chapter 518: Chapter 114 Buried Secrets Surface

Gideon’s POV

The covert investigation Daniel had assigned me sent adrenaline coursing through my system. Everything about this case reeked of organized coverup, yet had been conveniently buried as unfortunate coincidence by local authorities clearly in someone’s pocket.

I reached the rural township early Saturday morning, methodically cruising through streets to map the terrain. This was a compact community surrounded by sprawling agricultural estates stretching beyond the horizon. The logistics of providing discreet medical services to scattered properties would be complex, but the estate where the woman had allegedly died during childbirth sat just a short drive from town via a private access road maintained by family money.

After my reconnaissance drive, I circled back to the commercial district for deeper surveillance. I wandered the town square, grabbed lunch at a family-owned diner, and engaged elderly locals in casual conversation. Posing as someone scouting investment opportunities in the area, I hoped to extract useful intelligence, but nobody volunteered anything substantial. The town possessed an unsettling stillness, as though dangerous secrets lay buried beneath its wholesome veneer.

My next target was the private medical practice serving the area’s elite families. A young woman staffed the reception desk. She wasn’t my primary objective, but could potentially guide me to the right contact. I approached without revealing my law enforcement connections—this investigation demanded absolute discretion.

"Excuse me, miss. I need to locate a nurse who works here—the veteran one. What’s her name again?" I feigned temporary memory lapse, confident the receptionist would supply the missing information.

"Oh, that would be Sonia," she responded with an eager smile, leaning forward conspiratorially. "I swear she’s been here since they founded this place."

I thanked her for refreshing my "memory" and she offered an understanding nod.

"A business associate asked me to discuss locating someone with her. Is she working today?" I maintained friendly professionalism, recognizing that in a community this insular, my presence would become dinner conversation within hours.

"She’s off shift today, but you could visit her residence. It’s quite close." The receptionist proved surprisingly accommodating, providing detailed directions to Sonia’s address and mentioning she lived independently.

The house was indeed nearby—a well-maintained cottage with decorative stonework and cultivated flower beds framing the entrance. I announced myself at the gate, and shortly a sharp-eyed woman appeared at the window before inviting me inside.

"Sonia?" She confirmed with a cautious nod. "I’m Gideon. A colleague directed me to find someone, and he suspects you might know their current location."

"Come in," she instructed, motioning toward her sofa while claiming the armchair across from me. "Who exactly are you seeking?"

"A nurse who collaborated with you years ago. She provided services to remote estate residents—"

"That parasitic snake Aria?" Sonia interrupted with obvious disgust. "Why would anyone want to track down that corrupt woman?"

"My colleague has legitimate reasons," I answered evasively, unwilling to expose my true mission.

"She systematically extorted money from vulnerable families, convincing them the doctor wouldn’t make house calls but she would provide equivalent care. She dispensed prescription medications without proper authorization. The doctor remained completely unaware—there are countless isolated estates and compounds around here that are difficult to monitor."

"Does she still reside locally?" I inquired.

"No, she vanished years ago when the doctor uncovered her operation."

"How did he discover it?"

"She delivered an infant and the mother suffered massive hemorrhaging. The husband rushed his wife and newborn to the medical facility. Subsequently, the woman became hysterical, insisting she’d delivered twins and one had been stolen."

"Stolen?" I pressed forward attentively.

"Exactly. The husband swears only Aria entered the birthing room. She managed the delivery while he waited outside. Afterward, she informed him his wife required rest due to complications, collected payment, and departed. When he entered, there was one baby and his unconscious wife. Being inexperienced parents, he trusted Aria, but when he touched his wife, she was burning with fever and the bedding was saturated with blood. He contacted a neighbor with transportation, secured help, and brought them to the clinic. She had severe internal bleeding—the doctor barely stabilized her. When she regained consciousness, she became frantic about having two babies."

"And the doctor terminated the nurse following that incident?"

"Yes, there were additional suspicious cases too. But you understand how these situations unfold—the police claimed insufficient evidence, dismissed everything as tragic coincidence. That detective is compromised, only pursues investigations that benefit his handlers."

"The same detective from that period still operates here?"

"Yes, identical one. But his wife controls everything—him, the station, all decisions. She’s constantly protecting Nathaniel’s youngest son from consequences. The detective’s wife maintains close ties with the boy’s mother."

"Nathaniel?"

"The agricultural processing magnate. Decent man, nearly lost his sanity when his first wife died. But he rapidly married that vindictive woman Claire. Social scandal—rumors circulated that Claire was his mistress, pregnant simultaneously with his wife. After his wife’s death, they wed, though their daughter had already been born. Now Claire pretends to be this righteous figure, constantly at church, attempting to silence the gossip. The disturbing coincidence is that his first wife also died during childbirth—both mother and baby—on the exact same day the other woman nearly bled to death at the clinic."

My pulse accelerated. Sonia was providing precisely the intelligence I required.

"So Nathaniel’s first wife gave birth the identical day as the woman the doctor rescued?"

"Correct, Nathaniel’s wife experienced premature labor."

"What an extraordinary coincidence. The doctor saved one but couldn’t save the other?"

"One of those devastating accidents. They occupied an estate nearby, but that day his wife was alone with household staff. Instead of summoning the doctor, the staff called some unauthorized midwife—I don’t know who. When Nathaniel returned, both his wife and baby daughter were deceased."

"How horrific."

"I always suspected the fortunate outcome for the woman the doctor saved came at the expense of the other’s death. If he’d gone to the estate, he wouldn’t have been at the clinic when the hemorrhaging woman arrived. I never comprehended why the staff didn’t fetch the doctor. But she died in Crest Lake shortly afterward anyway."

"Another death? Why would she be at a dangerous lake?"

"That’s precisely it—nobody ventures there recreationally. It’s treacherous, with unstable ground beneath the surface. Let me prepare coffee so we can continue talking. I rarely have visitors, and when someone calls, I become quite chatty."

"I’m finding our conversation extremely informative, Sonia." Her initial wariness had completely dissolved.

I departed Sonia’s residence after dinner armed with crucial intelligence, including Aria’s current whereabouts. The deeper I excavated this case, the more convinced I became that something sinister had transpired involving powerful families and systematic coverups. I possessed substantial material to discuss with Daniel upon my return.

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