Chapter 12 - The Hostile Takeover
Victor used a private entrance beneath Callahan headquarters.
Thomas Vale entered a security code.
The garage gates opened without hesitation.
He still possessed executive access.
Two armed men waited beside the elevator.
They wore Callahan security uniforms.
Grant’s company had been compromised at every level.
Victor led me to the top-floor boardroom.
Renata placed Claire’s letter on the table.
Thomas poured himself a drink.
“You poisoned Grant,” I said.
He lifted the glass.
“A precaution.”
“You knew there would be shooting.”
“I knew Daniel Mercer becomes reckless when frightened.”
“You almost killed Grant.”
Thomas smiled.
“That was the intention.”
Victor stood before the city windows.
“At eight tomorrow morning, the board will remove Grant as chairman.”
“He is alive.”
“For now.”
“His hospitalization creates incapacity.”
“Elaine is under arrest.”
“Several directors remain loyal to her interests.”
“And those who do not?”
Victor turned toward me.
“They will be persuaded.”
Renata examined the brass key.
“Claire wrote about a deposit box.”
“Where?”
“She did not say.”
Victor snatched the letter.
He read it quickly.
His expression darkened.
“What does the letter say?” I asked.
“Be quiet.”
“It says Claire had proof beyond the videos.”
Victor crossed to me.
“What did Lily tell you about the music box?”
“Nothing.”
He slapped me.
The force turned my head.
Renata laughed softly.
“Careful.”
“She bruises easily.”
Victor grabbed my chin.
“Claire hid a key.”
“That key opens something capable of destroying every person in this room.”
“You will tell me where.”
“I don’t know.”
Thomas approached the table.
“The engraving may identify the bank.”
He held the key beneath the light.
A small number was etched into the metal.
Renata entered it into her phone.
Nothing appeared.
Then she looked at the music box.
“The melody.”
“What about it?” Victor asked.
“Claire used music as passwords.”
“She called secure rooms by painting titles.”
“Perhaps the bank is connected to the song.”
The music box played an old melody.
I recognized it from childhood.
“Blue Moon,” I said.
Renata stared at me.
I immediately regretted speaking.
Victor searched for banks connected to the name.
Thomas found a private vault company named Blue Moon Depository.
It operated beneath an old hotel in Manhattan.
Victor smiled.
“Finally.”
He ordered Thomas to take the key.
Before they left, Renata approached me.
“You should understand something.”
“I never hated Lily.”
“You burned her.”
“I hated what she represented.”
“Claire.”
“Judgment.”
“A child born into power without earning any of it.”
“And you think you earned power?”
“I survived for it.”
“That is not the same thing.”
Her eyes hardened.
“You know nothing about me.”
“I know you threatened a silent child because she remembered what you did.”
Renata leaned close.
“She was silent because Grant failed her.”
“I merely benefited from it.”
The boardroom doors opened.
One of the armed guards entered.
“We have the girl.”
My heart stopped.
Lily was carried into the room by a man in hospital scrubs.
She kicked and fought.
A strip of tape covered her mouth.
Renata smiled.
I lunged from the chair.
The guard restrained me.
“Let her go.”
Lily saw me.
Tears filled her eyes.
Victor looked irritated.
“You were told to keep her at the hospital.”
Renata removed the tape from Lily’s mouth.
“The hospital is no longer secure.”
“How?” I demanded.
“Money.”
Renata placed one hand on Lily’s shoulder.
“People often speak of loyalty as though it is priceless.”
“It rarely survives a sufficiently large number.”
Lily bit her hand.
Renata screamed.
She raised her arm to strike her.
I threw myself between them.
The blow hit my face.
Lily wrapped her arms around me.
“It’s okay,” I whispered.
“It is not okay,” she cried.
Her voice was loud.
Clear.
Angry.
Renata stared at her.
Lily stood.
“You burned me.”
“You hurt Mommy.”
“And you are not my mother.”
Victor grabbed Renata’s wrist before she could attack.
“Enough.”
He looked at Thomas.
“Take them to the archive floor.”
“Why?”
“Because after the vote, an electrical fire will destroy this building.”
Thomas stared at him.
“There are night employees downstairs.”
Victor shrugged.
“Then the tragedy will be more convincing.”
Even Renata looked surprised.
“You said no more bodies.”
Victor turned toward her.
“I said what was necessary to keep you useful.”
For the first time, Renata understood that Victor intended to sacrifice her too.
The alliance began cracking in front of us.
Thomas escorted Lily and me toward the archive level.
Inside the elevator, he avoided my eyes.
“You know Victor will kill you,” I said.
“Stop talking.”
“You poisoned Grant for a chair Victor will never give you.”
“He needs me.”
“He needed Merrick.”
“He had him murdered.”
Thomas’s jaw tightened.
The elevator doors opened.
Before he could move, the emergency lights failed.
The elevator stopped between floors.
A voice came through the speaker.
Grant’s voice.
“Thomas.”
Thomas went pale.
May you like
Grant continued.
“You should have used enough poison to keep me in bed.”
