Chapter 9 - Noon
By eight the next morning, Preston Vale was the most wanted businessman in the state.
Police searched his properties.
His accounts were frozen.
Harrington Global issued an emergency suspension notice.
News vans surrounded headquarters.
Emily watched the coverage from her father’s penthouse office.
She had slept less than an hour.
Nathaniel had not slept at all.
At eleven thirty, the board began arriving.
Some looked terrified.
Others looked angry.
A few had attended the ballroom.
Emily remembered every face that had watched her kneel.
Now those same people waited for her instructions.
Funny how quickly power changed manners.
At eleven forty-five, Daniel placed a stack of documents before Emily.
“These transfer temporary voting authority to Preston.”
Nathaniel stared at him.
“You actually prepared them?”
“We need Preston to believe she can sign.”
Emily looked at Daniel.
“And the real documents?”
“Already filed.”
“What real documents?”
Daniel smiled.
“At six this morning, you transferred emergency voting authority into an independent trust.”
“Even if Preston forces you to sign something, you cannot legally give him control.”
Emily almost smiled.
Her father had chosen Daniel well.
At eleven fifty-eight, every phone in the boardroom vibrated.
A message.
TURN ON THE SCREEN.
The large display came alive.
Preston appeared.
He was not in the building.
Emily had expected that.
“Good morning.”
Nobody answered.
Preston smiled.
“I see everyone came.”
Emily leaned forward.
“Show Sophie.”
The camera shifted.
Sophie appeared.
Nathaniel stood.
“Daddy!”
The little girl began crying.
Nathaniel’s face broke.
“I’m here, sweetheart.”
“Daddy, I want to go home.”
“I know.”
“I’m coming.”
Preston returned to the screen.
“Sit down, Nathaniel.”
Nathaniel remained standing.
Emily touched his arm.
He sat.
Preston looked satisfied.
“Documents.”
Emily lifted them.
“Release Sophie first.”
“No.”
“Then we’re done.”
Preston laughed.
“You’re bluffing.”
Emily pushed the papers away.
“Try me.”
His expression hardened.
“You always were stubborn.”
“No.”
“I was patient.”
“I confused the two for twelve years.”
Several directors looked down.
Preston leaned closer.
“You enjoyed everything I gave you.”
Emily stared.
“You gave me?”
“The lifestyle.”
“The company.”
“The influence.”
Emily actually laughed.
“My father owned the house.”
“My father funded the company.”
“My father created Meridian.”
“What exactly did you give me, Preston?”
His face twisted.
“Status.”
Nathaniel muttered,
“She’s a Harrington.”
Even several board members nearly smiled.
Preston heard him.
“You think your father loved you?”
Nathaniel became still.
“He hid you for thirty-four years.”
Emily interrupted.
“Enough.”
Preston smiled.
“Emily doesn’t know everything, does she?”
Emily’s stomach tightened.
“What now?”
“Ask Nathaniel why Arthur suddenly changed the trust.”
She looked at her brother.
Nathaniel frowned.
“I don’t know.”
Preston laughed.
“He does.”
“No, I don’t.”
“Then maybe Arthur never told you.”
Preston looked directly at Emily.
“Your father wasn’t protecting your baby from me.”
“He was protecting Meridian from you.”
Emily stared.
“What are you talking about?”
“He discovered something about you.”
Daniel stood.
“Do not engage.”
Emily ignored him.
“What did he discover?”
Preston smiled.
“Sign the papers.”
“No.”
“Then you don’t get the answer.”
Emily leaned back.
“Keep it.”
Preston’s smile faded.
That was not the response he expected.
Emily continued.
“My father’s secrets have already cost enough.”
“I’m not trading Sophie for another one.”
Nathaniel looked at her.
Grateful.
Preston became angry.
“Sign.”
“Release her.”
“Sign!”
Emily remained calm.
“No.”
Preston disappeared from screen.
For ten seconds, nothing happened.
Then Sophie screamed.
Nathaniel jumped up.
The screen returned.
Sophie was unharmed.
But a masked man stood behind her.
Nathaniel lost control.
“I’ll sign!”
Emily grabbed him.
Preston smiled.
“There we are.”
Nathaniel looked at Emily.
“I’m sorry.”
“She’s my daughter.”
Emily whispered,
“I know.”
She turned toward the screen.
“We’ll sign.”
Daniel began protesting.
Emily raised her hand.
“But I want proof she’s alive in real time.”
Preston frowned.
“You’re watching her.”
“No.”
“I want her to answer a question.”
Preston nodded.
Emily looked at Sophie.
“Sophie.”
The little girl looked toward the camera.
“Do you remember the red bicycle?”
Nathaniel stared at Emily.
Sophie looked confused.
“What bicycle?”
Emily smiled.
“Thank you.”
She ended the call.
Nathaniel stared.
“What are you doing?”
“There is no red bicycle.”
“I know.”
“So?”
Emily turned toward Michael.
“The audio was live.”
“But the video wasn’t.”
Michael understood.
“Preston stitched a prerecorded feed.”
Emily nodded.
“That means Sophie may not be with him anymore.”
Nathaniel’s phone rang.
Everyone froze.
Unknown number.
He answered.
A whisper came through.
“Daddy?”
Nathaniel stopped breathing.
“Sophie?”
“I got away.”
He stood so quickly the chair fell backward.
“Where are you?”
“I don’t know.”
Emily heard traffic.
Then a train horn.
Michael grabbed another phone and began tracing.
Sophie whispered,
“There’s a big blue bridge.”
Nathaniel closed his eyes.
“I know where she is.”
He looked at Emily.
May you like
“Old Harbor freight yard.”
They ran.
