Chapter 14 - The Price of Silence
Elena survived surgery.
Lucas hired three lawyers before sunrise.
Graham Pike disappeared.
By noon, his home was empty, his car was found at the airport, and his passport showed no recent legal exit from the country.
“He had help,” Reed said.
Arthur sat in Clara’s office with a bruise swelling across his jaw.
Evan was safe with Maria in a secure hotel suite two floors above.
Arthur hated being separated from him even by an elevator.
Clara slid Elena’s payment authorization across the desk.
“This is not proof she ordered murder.”
“No.”
“But it proves she paid the man who sabotaged Rebecca’s car after Rebecca died.”
“Silence money.”
“Likely.”
Arthur stared out the window.
“I married her.”
Clara did not soften it.
“Yes.”
“I let her help raise Evan.”
“Yes.”
“I brought Rebecca’s enemy into our home.”
Clara leaned forward. “You did not know.”
“I should have.”
“That sentence is grief pretending to be logic.”
Arthur looked at her.
“You always this annoying?”
“Professionally.”
A knock came at the door.
Maria entered.
“Evan finally fell asleep.”
Arthur stood. “Nightmares?”
“He asked me to keep the bathroom light on.”
Arthur closed his eyes.
“Of course he did.”
Maria hesitated.
“There’s something I need to tell you.”
Arthur looked at her.
“I’m resigning.”
The words surprised him more than they should have.
“Why?”
Maria’s expression stayed calm.
“Because I can’t keep being the person your enemies attack to reach you.”
“They framed you.”
“They tried to destroy my reputation, my immigration status, and my relationship with Evan. Someone put stolen jewelry beside my passport.”
Arthur had no answer.
“I love that boy,” Maria continued. “But love doesn’t mean I have to accept being collateral damage.”
“You’re right.”
She blinked, perhaps expecting an argument.
Arthur said, “You’re completely right.”
He felt the loss anyway.
“When?”
“After this is stable.”
“You don’t owe us that.”
“I know. I owe Evan a goodbye.”
Arthur nodded.
Then Clara’s phone rang.
She answered, listened, and went pale.
“What?” Arthur asked.
She covered the receiver.
“Meridian Capital has accelerated the Vance Laurent debt.”
“Good.”
“No. Not good.”
“Why?”
“Because the guarantee is still being treated as valid until a court rules otherwise.”
Arthur stared at her.
“They’re coming after me.”
“Twenty-four million dollars.”
Maria whispered, “Can they take the house?”
Clara looked at Arthur.
“If we don’t prove the guarantee was forged quickly, they can try.”
Arthur’s phone buzzed.
A new email arrived from an unknown address.
SUBJECT: I CAN PROVE THE SIGNATURE IS FAKE.
The message contained one sentence.
May you like
BUT FIRST, YOU HAVE TO GET ME OUT ALIVE.
It was signed Graham Pike.
