Chapter 5: The Missing Minutes
"Do nothing yet," Harry said into the phone, his voice dropping an octave, settling into a chillingly calm register. "Secure a copy of the keycard logs and the corrupted video file. Leave the servers exactly as they are. I want Arthur to think he got away with it."
"Harry, this is attempted murder," Frank warned. "We should take this to the police."
"If we take a missing thirty seconds of video to the Seattle PD, Arthur’s lawyers will tie it up in court for years. They’ll claim a technical malfunction. They’ll claim someone stole his keycard," Harry retorted, pacing the sterile hospital corridor. "Arthur is sloppy, but he’s well-funded by his trust. I need undeniable proof. I need to know exactly how it happened, and I need to know if Beatrice was involved."
"She was standing right next to him at the top of the stairs," Frank pointed out.
"Standing next to him isn't a crime. Pushing my wife is," Harry said coldly. "Keep digging, Frank. Check their financials, check their recent calls. If they paid someone off, or if they’re getting ready to make a move on the Foundation, I want to know."
"Understood. How is Chloe?"
Harry’s rigid posture faltered slightly. "She's in an induced coma. The baby is in the NICU. They're alive, Frank, but just barely."
"I'm sorry, man. I'll find what you need. I promise."
Hanging up, Harry leaned against the wall, running a hand through his silver hair. He needed to think like the ruthless businessman he used to be before Chloe had softened his edges.
The motive was glaringly obvious. Harry’s brother—Arthur’s father—had passed away a decade ago, leaving Harry as the sole executor of the massive Sterling estate and the Foundation. For years, Arthur had operated under the assumption that since Harry was childless, the entire empire would eventually default to him. Arthur had grown entitled, lazy, and greedy, treating the Foundation’s charitable funds as his personal piggy bank, forcing Harry to cut off his access last year.
Chloe’s pregnancy had ruined Arthur's grand illusion. The birth of Lily meant Arthur was permanently bumped down the line of succession. He was being cut out of billions.
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Money. It always came down to money. Arthur and Beatrice had tried to murder a mother and her unborn child for a boardroom seat and a bank account.
Harry adjusted his tie, his reflection in the hospital window staring back with dead, icy eyes. He was going to destroy them. But first, he had to look them in the face and smile.
