Chapter 10 - THE CHASE THROUGH THE GREENHOUSE
The Hawthorne greenhouse stretched across the eastern garden.
Glass walls reflected the approaching police lights.
Vale moved between rows of tropical plants.
He carried Claire’s brass box beneath one arm.
Richard followed at a distance.
Detective Ellis called for him to stop.
He ignored her.
Vale reached the far doors.
They were locked.
Marcus had sealed them remotely.
Vale turned.
“You destroyed your own family, Richard.”
“No.”
“I trusted the wrong people.”
“That is how powerful men destroy families.”
Vale held up the box.
“You never understood what Claire discovered.”
“She found your fraud.”
“She found your father’s.”
Richard stopped.
His father, William Hawthorne, built the family fortune through pharmaceutical investments.
Vale claimed William used Cole’s private clinics to test unapproved treatments on vulnerable patients.
Claire discovered records proving that Hawthorne money came from settlements hidden through shell companies.
She planned to expose the history.
Vale believed the scandal would collapse Hawthorne Biomedical.
He poisoned Claire to silence her.
Then he altered the trust to preserve control.
“You killed my wife to protect my company,” Richard said.
“I protected thousands of employees.”
“You protected yourself.”
Vale smiled.
“You sound like Claire.”
A side panel shattered.
Victoria entered the greenhouse carrying a tire iron.
She had circled through the garden.
Vale turned toward her.
“You should have run.”
“You were going to blame me for everything.”
“You poisoned the children.”
“You gave me the pills.”
Victoria swung the tire iron.
Vale avoided it.
The brass box fell.
Richard moved toward it.
Vale struck him with the gun.
Richard collapsed beside the fountain.
Victoria grabbed the box and ran toward the service door.
Emily appeared in the doorway with Noah behind Detective Ellis.
“Victoria.”
Victoria stopped.
Emily stood between her and the only exit.
“You can still put the box down.”
“You think Richard will forgive me?”
“No.”
“You think the boys will?”
“No.”
Victoria’s eyes filled with panic.
“Then why should I surrender?”
“Because one honest choice is better than another crime.”
Victoria looked toward Noah.
Rainwater dripped from his hair.
He had followed his father despite everyone telling him to remain inside.
“You made us sick,” he said.
Victoria’s grip weakened.
Vale rose behind her.
He lifted the gun.
Emily saw him first.
“Down.”
Victoria dropped.
Vale fired.
The bullet struck the greenhouse door.
Detective Ellis returned fire into the ceiling frame above Vale.
Glass shattered around him.
He covered his face.
Marcus tackled him into the fountain.
Officers entered from both sides.
Vale was dragged from the water.
Victoria remained on the floor holding the brass box against her chest.
Noah approached Emily.
“Is it over?”
Emily looked toward the police surrounding Vale.
“Not yet.”
Richard opened the box.
The original trust was inside.
Claire’s medical evidence was not.
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One sealed compartment had been removed.
Someone had taken it before Vale reached the greenhouse.
