Chapter 9 - The Deal Daniel Made
Arthur refused to answer at the site.
Victoria did not let him leave.
They sat in his car behind police tape.
Rain tapped the roof.
“Talk.”
Arthur rubbed both hands over his face.
“I was an attorney before I was a judge.”
“I know.”
“I represented a public-interest group during the first Vance contamination claims.”
“That sounds heroic.”
“It wasn’t.”
Victoria’s stomach tightened.
“What did you sign?”
“A settlement.”
“For whom?”
“Residents.”
“And?”
“A confidentiality structure.”
“Why?”
“Because the families needed money quickly.”
“You helped bury it.”
He looked at her.
“Yes.”
The honesty hit harder.
“Did you know cleanup was fraudulent?”
“No.”
“Did you know records would disappear?”
“No.”
“Do I believe you?”
“I don’t know.”
Victoria looked out the windshield.
Arthur continued.
“Charles represented Vance Textile.”
There it was.
Two young attorneys.
One for harmed families.
One for the company.
Deal signed.
Silence purchased.
Then Arthur became a judge.
Charles became rich.
“Why did Daniel trust you?”
“He found my signature.”
“And confronted you.”
“Yes.”
“What did you say?”
“The truth.”
“What truth?”
“That I regretted it.”
Victoria laughed.
“That is convenient.”
Arthur nodded.
“Yes.”
Daniel still chose him as dead-man custodian.
Why?
Arthur answered before she asked.
“Because I gave him the original case index.”
Victoria turned.
“The missing file?”
“Not missing. Hidden.”
“Where?”
“Daniel took it.”
“So Charles was right.”
“Yes.”
“And now?”
“I don’t know.”
Victoria’s phone buzzed.
Delayed message.
Daniel.
Recipient:
VICTORIA HARRINGTON.
Subject:
IF THEY TOUCH LILY.
She pressed play.
Daniel appeared.
“Vic.”
One word.
Her throat closed.
“If Charles or anyone connected to him targets Lily, stop assuming the old settlement is the center.”
Victoria leaned closer.
“It isn’t.”
Arthur looked at her.
Daniel continued.
“The land is the center.”
Then maps appeared.
Property lines.
Shell companies.
Environmental reversion.
Exactly what they had found.
Daniel said:
“Charles does not care if the Vance name survives.”
Evelyn had believed he did.
“He wants the site condemned.”
Victoria whispered, “We know.”
Then Daniel said:
“But he cannot finish without one signature.”
She knew.
Hers.
“Mine.”
Daniel nodded from three years ago.
“Yours.”
Then another document appeared.
Trustee consent form.
Pre-drafted.
Her name.
Blank signature.
Daniel said:
“He has copies of your handwriting.”
Victoria’s blood went cold.
Already happened.
Daniel continued.
“One more thing.”
The screen changed.
Photo of Charles.
Arthur.
Evelyn.
And another man.
Daniel’s father, James Harrington.
Victoria’s breath stopped.
Daniel said:
“Charles is my grandfather.”
Arthur whispered, “Oh God.”
Daniel continued.
“And if he tells you Lily is the heir, he’s lying.”
Victoria frowned.
“Then who?”
Daniel looked into the camera.
“You are.”
The video ended.
Arthur stared.
Victoria whispered:
“Why me?”
Then Daniel’s archive automatically opened one last file.
SUCCESSOR BENEFICIARY:
VICTORIA HARRINGTON.
May you like
CUT.
