Chapter 15 - The Fall
Howard did not get arrested that morning.
Neither did Gregory.
Power does not evaporate because police cars arrive.
Lawyers arrived too.
So did arguments about jurisdiction, evidence, and warrants.
But something irreversible happened.
The Hartmans lost control of the story.
Federal investigators took Samuel’s records.
Local police documented the confrontation.
Margaret voluntarily gave a statement.
So did I.
Gregory’s baseball bat was collected.
Again.
The same model.
The same threat.
This time witnessed.
Howard attempted to leave Key West on a private plane.
Federal agents stopped him at the airport.
Not arrested.
Questioned.
His devices were temporarily seized under a warrant connected to financial records Samuel had preserved.
By sunset, Hartman Maritime’s board called an emergency meeting.
Margaret attended remotely.
For the first time in eleven years, she appeared before directors who had been told she was incompetent and unreachable.
She spoke for twelve minutes.
No screaming.
No dramatic accusations.
She simply read dates.
Trust transfers.
Medical orders.
Board votes.
Signatures.
When she finished, the room was silent.
Then one director asked Howard’s attorney a devastating question.
“Were we ever legally entitled to accept Mr. Hartman’s voting authority?”
The attorney could not answer.
Trading in Hartman Maritime bonds was suspended the next morning.
Three board members resigned.
Two private clinics hired criminal counsel.
Dr. Reed formally cooperated with investigators.
And Gregory disappeared.
That worried me.
Naomi called from San Diego.
“He emptied two accounts.”
“How much?”
“Almost four million.”
“Where did he go?”
“We don’t know.”
My stomach tightened.
Then another call came.
My former supervisor.
The man from Howard’s photograph.
I answered.
“Mark.”
“Ashlynn, listen carefully.”
“You worked with Howard.”
“I made a mistake.”
“You sold him information about me.”
“I gave him your name.”
My hands went cold.
“Why?”
“He threatened to destroy the acquisition.”
“You offered me instead?”
“I didn’t know what they intended.”
“Where is Gregory?”
Silence.
“Mark.”
“He called me twenty minutes ago.”
“What did he want?”
“Your San Diego address.”
I stood.
“My apartment?”
“No.”
His voice dropped.
“Your mother’s address.”
I was already moving.
Gregory had lost the company.
Lost his father’s protection.
Lost control of me.
May you like
And now he was heading toward the one person he thought could still make me obey.
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