Chapter 7 - The Briefcase in the Helicopter
I reached the lawn before the helicopter lifted.
Mason climbed inside.
The pilot increased power.
Rotor wash flattened the grass and sent dust across my face.
I grabbed the landing skid.
Thomas shouted behind me.
The helicopter rose three feet.
Mason kicked at my hands.
“You are insane.”
I pulled myself onto the skid.
He swung the briefcase.
The corner struck my temple.
Light flashed across my vision.
I caught the strap before it disappeared inside.
The briefcase tore open.
Documents flew into the rotor wash.
White pages scattered over the lawn like frightened birds.
One envelope struck the windshield and stuck there.
Mason reached for my fingers.
“You should have stayed overseas.”
I drove my elbow through the open doorway and struck his ribs.
The pilot panicked.
The helicopter dropped.
I released the skid and hit the ground hard.
Pain shot through my knees.
The aircraft climbed away.
Thomas and Agent Reed ran toward me.
“I’m fine.”
I was not.
Blood ran along my temple.
But several documents had landed nearby.
Reed collected them.
One was a laboratory report.
It identified traces of digoxin, aconite, and a veterinary sedative inside tablets labeled as my father’s heart medication.
Another was a signed affidavit from Dr. Raymond.
The affidavit claimed my father requested assisted death because of unbearable pain.
Texas did not permit physician-assisted death.
The document was not protection.
It was evidence of conspiracy.
The envelope stuck to the windshield had fallen when the helicopter climbed.
Thomas retrieved it near the fountain.
My name appeared across the front.
Inside was a letter from Dad.
Harper,
If you are reading this, I may no longer be alive.
Victoria believes the estate is the prize.
It is not.
The real target is Sterling Logistics.
Conrad and Mason are using our medical supply routes to move counterfeit cardiac drugs.
People have already died.
I found seventeen cases linked to shipments from our Houston warehouse.
The records are hidden inside Truck 317.
Trust Thomas.
Trust Elena.
Trust Margaret.
Do not trust the sheriff’s office.
I looked toward Deputy Briggs.
He had disappeared.
His patrol car was gone.
Reed issued an alert for Mason’s helicopter.
Flight control reported that the aircraft turned south toward a private airfield near the Gulf.
Conrad claimed he had no knowledge of the destination.
The pilot was registered to a company called Vale Coastal Holdings.
Reed arrested Conrad for obstruction.
Conrad remained calm while being handcuffed.
“You believe this changes ownership?”
“The signed deed has already been recorded.”
“By tomorrow morning, every Sterling asset will belong to Victoria.”
I stepped close to him.
“Then tomorrow morning, I will take them back.”
His smile returned.
“You may want to reach Truck 317 first.”
My phone rang.
The hospital displayed on the screen.
A nurse spoke urgently.
May you like
Grandma Margaret was missing from her room.
A bouquet of crimson roses had been left on her bed.
