Chapter 5 - THE PRICE OF A SIGNATURE
Grant led Lily from the stone room.
Celeste remained behind long enough to place the trust amendment on a shelf.
Then she left.
Alexander waited until the metal door closed.
He and Maya climbed through the maintenance panel.
The amendment transferred temporary control of Lily’s trust to Celeste upon marriage.
It also gave Celeste authority to declare Alexander medically incapacitated.
The supporting documents had been signed by Dr. Warren Pike, Alexander’s private physician.
Pike claimed Alexander suffered from severe neurological episodes and impaired judgment.
Alexander had never been diagnosed with either condition.
“They plan to take the company without killing you,” Maya said.
“No.”
He looked at Rebecca’s video camera.
“They will kill me after the transfer.”
A handwritten note was attached to the final page.
SIGN BEFORE MIDNIGHT OR THE CHILD STOPS BREATHING.
Lily’s asthma was not usually life-threatening.
But without her inhaler, prolonged panic could become dangerous.
Maya still carried the turquoise inhaler.
Celeste would force Alexander to choose between signing and allowing Lily to suffer.
He folded the documents into his jacket.
“Where would Grant take her?”
“The old observatory.”
The Vale estate included a glass observatory built by Alexander’s grandfather.
It had been closed since a lightning strike damaged the upper dome.
Grant controlled the only functioning elevator.
Maya knew a second route through the wine cellar.
They moved quietly through the service tunnel.
Halfway to the cellar, Maya stopped and leaned against the wall.
Her face had become dangerously pale.
Alexander saw blood soaking through the side of her uniform.
“You were cut.”
“It is not deep.”
He lifted the torn fabric.
A long wound crossed her ribs where the wine bottle had broken.
“You need a hospital.”
“So does Lily.”
Alexander removed his shirt and wrapped it around Maya’s waist.
“You should have left when they ordered you to.”
“She would have died.”
“Why risk your life for my daughter?”
Maya looked at him.
“Because she is seven.”
The simplicity of the answer shamed him.
Maya had protected Lily because a child needed help.
Alexander had surrounded his daughter with security, wealth and employees, yet failed to notice the danger inside his own home.
They reached the wine cellar.
Voices came from the room above.
Grant was speaking with Dr. Pike.
“The dosage must leave him conscious enough to sign.”
“And afterward?”
“Cardiac arrest.”
Alexander froze.
Dr. Pike asked about Lily.
Grant answered without emotion.
“The girl goes back into the room.”
Maya touched Alexander’s arm.
His rage was immediate and absolute.
She shook her head.
“If you rush in, they will move her.”
Alexander forced himself to remain still.
They followed the voices through a grate.
Dr. Pike handed Grant two syringes.
One contained a sedative.
The other contained potassium chloride.
A third man entered the cellar.
Alexander recognized him as the head of his corporate security division.
“Mr. Vale’s plane has landed,” the man said.
Grant frowned.
“Alexander is already here.”
The security chief shook his head.
“Not Alexander.”
He handed Grant a passport photograph.
May you like
The man in the image had Alexander’s face.
They had prepared a replacement.
