Chapter 10 - The Warehouse
Police hit the first warehouse at 3:17 in the morning.
Empty.
The second contained only abandoned machinery.
At the third, they found fresh tire marks, a folding chair, blood, rope, and Victoria’s broken phone.
But no Victoria.
No Graham.
“He moved her,” Kim told Arthur at dawn.
Arthur stood at the hospital window watching the city brighten. “Because he knew you were coming.”
“Maybe.”
“Or someone told him.”
Kim’s silence confirmed the thought had already occurred to her.
Inside the department, only a handful of officers knew the warehouse locations. Someone could be leaking information.
Arthur’s trust in everyone narrowed to almost nothing.
At nine, the board meeting was moved to a secure conference room at Vale Systems headquarters. Arthur attended by video from the hospital.
Graham’s chair was empty.
Board members argued. Markets had already reacted to rumors. Vale Systems stock was falling. News trucks crowded the headquarters entrance.
Arthur could feel his father’s old world closing around him: reputation, control, fear of weakness.
For years, he had worshipped that world.
Now Leo sat ten feet away drawing a house with no walls.
Arthur made his decision.
“I’m postponing the sale vote,” he said.
A director protested. “You can’t do that unilaterally.”
“I can under the emergency provision, and I am.”
Another director said, “Arthur, the press is reporting your wife may have abducted your son.”
“My son was abducted.”
The room went silent.
Arthur continued. “He was hidden inside my home by people trying to manipulate control of this company. I failed to see what was happening. I will answer for that. But I will not hand this company to anyone under threat.”
His phone lit up with an incoming call from Graham.
Arthur answered privately.
Graham sounded amused.
“That speech cost you.”
“Where is Victoria?”
“Still alive.”
“For how long?”
“That depends on whether you can follow directions for once in your life.”
Arthur gripped the phone.
Graham lowered his voice.
“Come alone to the old Vale boathouse. Bring the trust amendment. Noon.”
“I don’t have it.”
“You will.”
“How?”
May you like
Graham laughed.
“Ask your maid what she took from the red room.”
