Chapter 9 - The Deal
Graham looked almost cheerful in the video.
He wore a gray suit, no tie, and the same silver watch Arthur had given him for his fortieth birthday.
Victoria sat behind him with tape over her mouth and blood dried near her hairline.
“Tomorrow at noon,” Graham said, “the board meets. You will announce that stress has made you temporarily unfit to run Vale Systems. You will appoint me acting CEO and sign the voting proxy I send you.”
Arthur’s hands curled into fists.
“If you involve police,” Graham continued, “Victoria dies. If you refuse, I send the board evidence that you concealed your son’s disappearance, endangered an employee, and lost control of your own home. The truth won’t matter. Panic will.”
He stepped closer to the camera.
“And Arthur? Don’t think this is about money. Money is only how men like you keep score.”
The video ended.
Detective Kim took the phone. “He made one mistake.”
Arthur looked at her.
“The video has sound.”
In the background, faint but clear, came a repeating metallic horn.
Elena listened twice. “That’s not a train.”
“No,” Arthur said. “It’s a river warning horn.”
He knew the sound from childhood. His father had owned warehouses along the industrial canal.
“There are only three facilities near those horns,” he said.
Kim was already calling her team.
Arthur wanted to go with them.
Kim refused.
This time he listened.
He returned to Leo’s hospital room and sat beside the bed until his son woke.
“Dad?”
“I’m here.”
Leo studied his face. “Are you mad at me?”
Arthur’s throat tightened. “For what?”
“For yelling in the wall. Victoria said you would hate me if I ruined everything.”
Arthur had to look away.
“No. Listen to me. You could never ruin my life by asking me to save you.”
Leo reached for his hand.
Arthur held it with both of his.
Then Leo whispered, “Graham was at the house.”
Arthur went still.
“When?”
“The night she put me in the wall.”
“What did he do?”
May you like
Leo’s eyes filled with tears.
“He gave her a black bag. Then he told her, ‘After the boy, we deal with Arthur.’”
