Chapter 8 - THE ATTORNEY’S FINAL BETRAYALChloe stared at the screen.
“Marcus is working with Julian.”
Mia grabbed the red flash drive.
“We have to get to the roof.”
The elevators had been shut down. They raced up the emergency staircase while gala guests poured from the ballroom after hearing the gunshot.
On the roof, Marcus handed Julian the handcuff keys.
“I kept my side of the agreement,” Marcus said.
Richard stared at him.
“You represented my family for fifteen years.”
“I protected your family for fifteen years. There is a difference.”
Marcus revealed that his father had been a Halcyon surgeon whose career was destroyed when Richard’s father exposed fraudulent procedures. Marcus had spent his adult life waiting for revenge.
“You could have stopped me at any time,” Richard said.
“I needed you alive long enough to sign the merger.”
“I will never sign it.”
Julian pointed toward the helicopter.
“You already did.”
He produced a signature page.
Richard examined it.
The signature looked authentic.
Marcus had taken samples from legal documents and created a perfect forgery.
“Once the board files this,” Julian said, “your objections become irrelevant.”
Sirens sounded below.
The transmitter recording had reached federal authorities, but Julian had prepared an escape.
He ordered Daniel to place Richard inside the helicopter.
Mia and Chloe reached the roof.
“Stop!”
Julian looked toward them.
Mia held up the red drive.
“I have your account records.”
Julian’s composure cracked.
“Give it to me.”
“Release Richard.”
Marcus stepped behind Chloe and seized her.
Mia froze.
The helicopter blades began turning.
Wind tore across the roof.
Richard struck Daniel with his shoulder, sending both men against the landing rail. Evelyn regained consciousness and crawled toward the pistol.
Marcus dragged Chloe closer to the helicopter.
“Throw me the drive!”
Mia looked at her sister.
Then she hurled the red drive over the edge of the roof.
Julian screamed and ran toward it.
The drive disappeared into the darkness below.
Marcus released Chloe and rushed after Julian.
That was the distraction Mia needed.
She pulled Chloe away while Richard wrestled Daniel to the ground. Evelyn reached the pistol, but instead of firing, she kicked it beneath an air-conditioning unit.
Federal agents burst through the rooftop door.
Julian raised his hands.
Marcus did the same.
Daniel remained facedown on the concrete.
The helicopter pilot shut down the engine.
For a moment, it appeared finished.
Then Julian began laughing.
“That drive was your only evidence.”
Mia smiled.
“It was empty.”
Lena stepped forward behind the agents.
“The real files were uploaded three minutes ago.”
Julian stopped laughing.
Evelyn sat against the wall, staring at the city lights.
She understood that her old life was gone.
Federal agents arrested Julian, Marcus, and Daniel. Richard was released after medical treatment, though the charges against him were not immediately dismissed.
Malcolm’s testimony and the ledger still had to be authenticated.
Evelyn requested a private meeting with Mia.
Inside a guarded hotel office, she removed a thin chain from around her neck. A tiny key hung from it.
“Your mother gave me this,” Evelyn said.
Mia recoiled.
“You knew her.”
“I knew her before I knew Richard.”
“Were you friends?”
“No. She caught me stealing.”
Evelyn explained that, years earlier, she had worked as Julian’s assistant. Elena discovered her moving money and threatened to report her.
Julian ordered Evelyn to arrange Elena’s fatal car accident.
Evelyn claimed she refused.
“Then who did it?”
“Marcus.”
Mia stared at her.
“Why should I believe anything you say?”
“Because I kept Elena’s final recording.”
The key opened a bank deposit box.
Inside, they found a small cassette tape.
On the recording, Elena described the Halcyon scheme and named Julian, Malcolm, Marcus, and several officials.
Then she revealed one final secret.
“Mia and Chloe must never know why the Vance trust belongs to them,” Elena said. “If Richard discovers the truth too soon, he may become their enemy.”
Mia stopped the recording.
Richard stood behind her.
He had heard everything.
“Why would my family trust belong to you?” he asked.
Evelyn looked from Richard to the two sisters.
“Because Richard Vance is not the biological son of the man who raised him.”
May you like
She turned toward Mia.
“Your mother was.”
