Chapter 7 - DENISE CROWLEY
Denise was detained inside the housekeeping office.
She denied knowing anything about the missing inhaler.
She claimed the message referred to Lily being hidden in the linen room.
Federal Agent Naomi Pierce placed the empty backup inhaler on the table.
It had been found inside Denise’s locker.
Denise stared at it.
“I did not put that there.”
Naomi opened the security log.
Denise had entered Ethan’s office at 1:38.
She claimed she was checking the cleaning staff.
The office had already been cleaned.
At 2:02, Sebastian used his executive override to disable the camera.
At 2:04, Denise left through the service door.
Ethan collapsed minutes later.
Denise’s composure began to crack.
“Sebastian said Mr. Harrington wanted privacy.”
“He told me to remove the inhaler because it was expired.”
“Did you cut the emergency watch?” Naomi asked.
“No.”
“Who did?”
“I don’t know.”
Naomi placed photographs of Maria’s apartment on the table.
“Did you give Sebastian her address?”
Denise looked away.
“He said she had stolen confidential documents.”
“You threatened to fire her for missing work.”
“That is company policy.”
“You knew she was Ava Delgado’s sister.”
Denise’s eyes filled with fear.
Years earlier, Denise had worked as Conrad’s executive assistant.
She recognized Maria when the contractor hired her.
Sebastian instructed Denise to keep Maria in low-level positions and report any attempt to approach Ethan.
“Why not fire her immediately?” Ethan asked.
“Sebastian wanted to know whether she had Ava’s records.”
Maria stood near the observation window.
For two years, every warning, extra inspection, and denied schedule request had been part of surveillance.
Denise had not been indifferent.
She had been watching.
Naomi leaned forward.
“Did Sebastian order Ethan’s death?”
Denise began crying.
“He said the attack would frighten him.”
“He said the canister still had enough medication.”
“It had one effective dose,” Dr. Park said.
“Without Lily, he would have died.”
Denise covered her face.
“I did not know.”
Ethan’s voice remained cold.
“You removed medicine from a man with a life-threatening condition.”
“What exactly did you believe would happen?”
Denise could not answer.
She agreed to cooperate.
Her first confession exposed a larger plan.
The following day’s board meeting was not only about a merger.
Sebastian intended to declare Ethan medically incapable.
He had prepared emergency documents transferring control of Harrington Industries to himself.
Three board members had already been paid.
If Ethan died, the transfer became permanent.
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If Ethan survived but appeared unstable, Sebastian still won.
The asthma attack had been designed for either outcome.
