Chapter 9 - Two Conspiracies
Beth was arrested at the hospital before dawn.
At first, she refused to speak.
Then Detective Torres showed her the footage.
Beth laughed.
Not loudly.
Not happily.
Just once.
“I wondered when he’d find that.”
“Gordon?”
Beth nodded.
Claire sat across from her.
“You tried to make me fall.”
Beth looked at her stomach.
“No.”
“You tied the wire.”
“Yes.”
“That is generally how tripwires work.”
“I knew Rosa would stop you.”
Claire’s expression hardened.
“How?”
“I made sure she watched Mark.”
Nolan’s anonymous warning.
Beth had sent it.
“I knew Mark would come.”
“You sent him the photograph.”
“Yes.”
“You made sure he brought cutters.”
“I told him there was cable behind the staircase wall.”
Mark stared through the interrogation-room glass.
Claire felt his anger even from the other side.
“You created the entire scene.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Beth’s face tightened.
“I needed the red ledger.”
Claire stared.
“You could have killed my child because you wanted a book?”
“I needed everyone scared enough to open Laura’s sealed rooms.”
“That is your defense?”
“No.”
For the first time, Beth looked ashamed.
“I underestimated how close you would get.”
Claire remembered her shoe.
The wire inches away.
Rosa grabbing her arm.
“You didn’t underestimate anything.”
Beth lowered her eyes.
“You decided my life was acceptable collateral.”
“Yes.”
Claire’s anger became almost calm.
That frightened Beth more than shouting would have.
“And the supplements?”
“Not me.”
“The car?”
“What car?”
Someone had tampered with Claire’s planned hospital vehicle after the staircase incident.
Beth genuinely seemed surprised.
Claire noticed.
“So there are two people.”
Beth nodded slowly.
“Gordon.”
“Why would Gordon want me hurt if he needs Sunday’s audit?”
Beth looked at her.
“Because Gordon doesn’t need you.”
“What?”
“He needs the pregnancy certified.”
Claire went still.
“The trust can transition if I’m incapacitated?”
“Yes.”
“Who controls it?”
“Your husband.”
David.
“And if David is suspended?”
Beth answered:
“Emergency counsel can petition.”
“Gordon.”
“Yes.”
Claire understood.
Beth wanted the audit opened so she could obtain the red ledger and blackmail Gordon.
Gordon wanted the transition triggered, but Claire removed afterward so he could seize emergency authority.
Two conspiracies.
Each manipulating the same succession crisis.
“Did Gordon know about your wire?”
“No.”
“Does he know now?”
“Obviously.”
“Why expose you?”
Beth smiled sadly.
“Because I stopped being useful.”
Claire asked:
“Who attacked you?”
“I arranged it.”
Detective Torres stared.
“You staged your kidnapping?”
“Yes.”
“To look like Gordon was cleaning witnesses?”
“Yes.”
Claire shook her head.
“This family attracts remarkable people.”
Beth almost laughed.
Then Claire asked:
“Where is the red ledger?”
“I don’t know.”
“You went through all this and still don’t know?”
“Laura hid it.”
“Where?”
Beth looked toward the mirrored window.
“Ask Henry.”
Henry claimed ignorance.
Celeste claimed ignorance.
Nolan claimed ignorance.
Mark began tracing Samuel’s archival records.
David faced the board.
Claire remained under twenty-four-hour security.
By Thursday, three days before the transition, the company was collapsing.
David had been suspended pending financial review.
Henry had stepped aside.
Celeste’s admitted theft became public.
Mark was being questioned regarding illegal access to corporate files.
Exactly what Gordon needed.
Every legitimate Mercer decision-maker was compromised.
Then Claire received a call from Dr. Foster.
“Someone filed a new medical power of attorney.”
Claire closed her eyes.
“Again?”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
“It names David first.”
David looked at her.
“And second?”
“Gordon Shaw.”
Claire almost laughed.
“That signature isn’t mine.”
“We know.”
“What else?”
A pause.
“Someone also filed a viability certification.”
Claire’s hand went to her stomach.
“Sunday’s certification?”
“Effective immediately.”
“That isn’t possible.”
“It was signed by a physician.”
“Who?”
“Dr. Alan Pierce.”
Claire had never heard the name.
Detective Torres investigated.
Dr. Pierce existed.
He had once served as medical director for a Mercer Foundation clinic.
He had retired four years ago.
And died eleven months earlier.
The signature was fabricated.
But the trust administrator had already accepted the filing pending review.
The transition clock had started.
Not Sunday.
Now.
Claire stared at the confirmation.
“When does it complete?”
Mark checked the trust language.
“Thirty-six hours.”
David looked at the clock.
Friday.
4:17 p.m.
Completion:
Sunday, 4:17 a.m.
Gordon had accelerated everything.
Then Mark noticed a clause.
His face changed.
“What?”
Claire asked.
“If the maternal beneficiary becomes medically unable to serve during transition…”
David completed it.
“Authority goes to the father.”
“And if the father is under formal fiduciary suspension,” Mark said, “emergency counsel can petition for interim control.”
Claire whispered:
“Gordon.”
Mark nodded.
Someone had contaminated her supplements.
Someone had forged David into scandal.
Someone had falsified her medical documents.
The tripwire had been Beth’s scheme.
But Gordon’s plan was more terrifying.
He did not need Claire to lose the baby.
He only needed Claire unable to speak for herself.
Then Claire’s hotel room telephone rang.
Not her mobile.
The private hotel line.
Only staff knew the number.
She answered.
Gordon said:
“You finally understand.”
Claire looked at David.
“What do you want?”
“To save you.”
She laughed.
“You poisoned me.”
“No.”
“Then who did?”
“Ask your father what he has been putting in your tea.”
The line disconnected.
Claire slowly looked toward David.
May you like
Henry Mercer had admitted handling her supplements.
Maybe that had not been accidental.
