Chapter 6 - THE EMAIL CALLED AFTER ARTHUR
Miles did not make it out of the country.
Federal authorities stopped the charter before departure.
He had booked the flight to Vancouver under another passenger’s corporate account.
Inside his briefcase were two phones.
One ordinary.
One encrypted.
The second contained deleted messages.
Forensic technicians recovered enough.
A conversation between Miles and Vivienne.
Three months.
No names.
Arthur was called A.
The plan was called AFTER A.
One message.
VIVIENNE:
HE’S CHANGING THE TRUST.
MILES:
WHEN?
VIVIENNE:
AFTER THE GALA.
MILES:
THEN THE GALA IS THE LAST CLEAN WINDOW.
Arthur stared at the words.
Clean window.
His life had been reduced to scheduling language.
Another.
MILES:
NO SCENE.
NO HOSPITAL.
IT HAS TO LOOK NATURAL.
Detective Ortiz did not read the technical details aloud.
Arthur did not want them.
The meaning was enough.
Then one message changed the motive.
VIVIENNE:
AND AFTER?
MILES:
BOARD APPOINTS ME TEMPORARY EXECUTIVE CHAIR.
YOU GET THE PRIVATE TRUST.
WE STABILIZE.
VIVIENNE:
FOR HOW LONG?
MILES:
LONG ENOUGH.
Arthur almost laughed.
Vivienne thought she was planning a future with Miles too.
Or believed they would control the empire together.
But another recovered message existed.
Miles to Martin Bellamy.
SHE THINKS SHE HAS A BOARD ROLE.
SHE DOESN’T.
Arthur closed his eyes.
Everyone was using everyone.
Bellamy replied.
GOOD.
KEEP HER FOCUSED ON THE PERSONAL SIDE.
Vivienne was not innocent.
She had tried to kill him.
But Miles had apparently promised her more than he ever intended to deliver.
Arthur asked.
“How deep is Bellamy involved?”
Ortiz answered.
“We’re finding out.”
Bellamy had arrived almost immediately after police.
That now looked less like legal efficiency.
More like damage control.
Then Sarah’s earlier observation became crucial.
The envelope Vivienne stole.
Security footage showed her entering Arthur’s study two weeks before the gala.
She stayed four minutes.
When she left, she carried the envelope.
Five minutes later, she met Miles in the garage.
The plan accelerated after they saw the revised estate draft.
Arthur whispered.
“They knew I was cutting her back.”
Ortiz nodded.
“And possibly cutting him out tomorrow.”
Two decisions.
May you like
One gala.
One glass.
