Chapter 7 - SEVENTEEN DAYS
Arthur Sterling had left his son thirty-eight percent of Sterling Energy.
Combined with a separate family trust, Leo would control more voting power than any other individual shareholder when he turned twelve.
Until that day, the shares remained under temporary family management.
Richard.
Eleanor.
And Miles Crowe.
Clara understood immediately.
“What happens if Leo dies before twelve?”
Nobody answered.
She looked at Richard.
“Tell me.”
Richard’s face looked suddenly old.
“Arthur’s shares return to the family trust.”
“And who controls that?”
“Eleanor and I.”
Silence.
Clara felt physically sick.
Eleanor stepped forward.
“This is obscene.”
“What?”
“The implication.”
Clara stared at her.
“Leo was drugged and locked above an intentionally started fire seventeen days before your control of billions of dollars disappears.”
Crowe snapped.
“That is enough.”
“No.”
Clara turned toward him.
“Not anymore.”
Detective Reeves asked Richard to provide Arthur’s complete will.
Crowe interrupted.
“I am the estate counsel.”
“Then provide it.”
“I’ll need time.”
“You have two hours.”
Crowe left.
Eleanor followed.
Clara watched them go.
Richard sat slowly.
“I should have known.”
Leo looked toward him.
“Yes.”
Richard closed his eyes.
The answer hurt because it was true.
Clara walked to the window.
Below them, reporters had already surrounded the hospital.
News helicopters circled.
The Sterling fire was national news.
The rescued paralyzed heir.
The heroic housekeeper.
The suspicious blaze.
Clara hated every headline.
Leo was not a symbol.
He was a child.
Her phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
She opened the message.
A photograph appeared.
Arthur Sterling standing beside his helicopter six years earlier.
Someone had circled the pilot.
Beneath it was a sentence.
THE FIRE ISN'T THE FIRST ACCIDENT.
Clara stared.
Another message arrived.
ASK WHO SIGNED THE HELICOPTER MAINTENANCE REPORT.
She looked toward Richard.
“Arthur’s crash.”
He lifted his head.
“What about it?”
“Who investigated it?”
“Federal aviation authorities.”
“Who handled the family side?”
Richard hesitated.
“Miles.”
Clara’s stomach tightened.
“And who signed the final maintenance report?”
Richard said nothing.
She already knew.
Crowe.
Leo heard them.
“My dad’s crash wasn’t an accident?”
Richard stood.
“We don’t know that.”
Leo looked toward Clara.
She would not lie to him.
“We don’t know.”
He nodded.
It was painful.
But at least it was truth.
Detective Reeves examined the messages.
“Do you recognize the number?”
“No.”
“Anyone else know about the old crash?”
“Half the country.”
Richard whispered.
“But very few people knew there was a maintenance dispute.”
Clara turned.
“What dispute?”
Richard looked toward Leo.
Then away.
“A mechanic claimed something had been altered before takeoff.”
Clara’s blood ran cold.
“And?”
Richard swallowed.
“Miles convinced us the mechanic was trying to extort the family.”
“What happened to him?”
May you like
Richard’s answer barely left his mouth.
“We paid him to disappear.”
