Chapter 7: The Voice of Their Father
Arthur’s recorded voice trembled through the station corridor.
“Victor moved the first payment, but I approved the cover-up.
I ordered Owen Price dismissed when he refused to stay silent.”
Marnie gripped the recorder with both hands.
Arthur continued.
“Owen kept copies.
Victor believes I destroyed them.
I placed them with the one person he would never suspect—Elaine Mercer.”
Everyone turned toward Elaine.
Christian’s voice dropped.
“You had the copies?”
Elaine’s face tightened.
“I received a sealed archive from Arthur after his stroke.
His instructions said I could open it only if both Hale brothers were removed from leadership or if Owen’s key was used.”
“You watched Marnie’s family suffer.”
“I knew there was an archive.
I did not know what was inside.”
“Open it now.”
Elaine removed a small card from her wallet and entered a code on her phone.
“The files are stored with an independent legal custodian.”
Victor’s voice sounded behind them.
“No, they aren’t.”
He stood at the corridor entrance with two company security officers.
One carried a laptop.
Christian stepped in front of Marnie.
“You followed us.”
“I came to recover stolen company records.”
Elaine held up her phone.
“These records are under legal protection.”
Victor nodded to the security officers.
“Take the recorder and the documents.”
Neither man moved.
“I said take them.”
One removed his company badge and placed it on a bench.
“I’m not touching evidence, Mr.
Hale.”
The second did the same.
Victor’s face hardened.
“You are both dismissed.”
“Add it to the list,” the first man said.
Victor opened the laptop himself.
“Elaine, I have already started a remote deletion of the custodian archive.
Give me your access code, and I may stop it.”
“You don’t have authority.”
“I control the company server that validates her credentials,” Victor said to Christian.
“In four minutes, every file becomes unreadable.”
For one terrible moment, nobody spoke.
A countdown moved across the laptop screen.
Christian held out his hand.
“What do you want?”
“Your shares.
Sign them over, withdraw your accusations, and tell the police Adelaide acted alone.”
Adelaide, restrained beside the station officers, twisted toward Victor.
“You promised to protect me.”
“You became careless.”
“I did everything you asked.”
“And now you will take responsibility for it.”
Her face changed.
Christian saw it and moved closer.
“Adelaide, he’s leaving you behind.”
“Be quiet.”
“He used you exactly as he used Marnie.”
Victor turned the laptop toward Christian.
“Three minutes.”
Elaine pulled a printed form from her case.
“If Christian transfers his shares under coercion, the agreement is invalid.”
“Not if every witness signs a confidentiality settlement.”
Mr.
Bell laughed without humor.
“You think I’ll sign for money?”
“I think Rosebridge needs a new dementia wing,” Victor said.
“Two million dollars could build it.”
Mr.
Bell’s jaw tightened.
“You researched my wife.”
“I prepare.”
Marnie stepped toward Victor.
“My father prepared too.”
She held up the scorched ledger.
“These numbers match the paper archive.
You can delete a server, but you can’t delete what he wrote by hand.”
Victor closed the laptop and lunged for the ledger.
Christian caught his arm, and the pages scattered across the floor.
“Get off me!” Victor shouted.
A station officer pulled them apart.
Elaine’s phone chimed.
“The archive opened.”
Victor froze.
“How?”
“Arthur’s instructions named a second custodian,” Elaine said.
“Owen Price.”
Marnie stared at her.
“My father cannot speak.”
“He doesn’t need to.
His fingerprint can release the files.”
The countdown stopped at forty-one seconds.
A message appeared: EXTERNAL CUSTODIAN AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED.
Victor recovered first.
“Owen is legally incapacitated.
His authorization means nothing.”
Marnie’s phone rang.
Dr.
Lyle’s name appeared.
She answered on speaker.
“Marnie, your father is awake,” the doctor said.
“He heard your mother speaking about Christian Hale.”
A weak male voice came through the phone.
“Marnie?”
Her knees nearly gave way.
Christian caught her.
“Dad, I’m here.”
“Don’t trust Victor,” Owen whispered.
“He knows who signed the wine order.”
Christian looked at Victor.
“What wine order?”
May you like
Owen drew a strained breath.
“The same substance was purchased once before—on the night Arthur Hale suffered his stroke.”
