Chapter 4 - THE PHONE THAT WASN’T THERE
Khloe’s handbag was missing.
Her phone was missing.
Her courthouse documents were missing.
Even the small notebook she carried everywhere was gone.
Richard had taken all of it.
Harrison stood in the hospital security office watching footage of Richard calmly signing the property-release form.
No panic.
No grief.
No hesitation.
Richard knew exactly what he wanted.
“Freeze it.”
The security officer paused the footage.
Harrison leaned closer.
Richard was holding Khloe’s handbag.
Something blue protruded from the side pocket.
A flash drive.
Harrison recognized it.
Khloe used blue encrypted drives for sensitive records.
“Zoom in.”
The image pixelated.
But the shape was unmistakable.
Harrison called Daniel.
“Richard has a flash drive.”
“What’s on it?”
“I don’t know.”
“Then how important is it?”
“Important enough that he came to the hospital before visiting his wife.”
Daniel was silent.
“I’ll track him.”
“No.”
Harrison thought for a moment.
“Track the car.”
“Same thing.”
“Not with Richard.”
Daniel understood.
“You think he’ll switch vehicles.”
“He will if he knows we’re watching.”
Harrison returned to the trauma floor.
Khloe remained unconscious.
Her newborn daughter was stable but fragile.
Harrison stood outside the NICU glass.
The baby was tiny.
A pink knitted cap covered her head.
Thin tubes surrounded her.
Her little hand rested beside her face.
Harrison pressed his palm against the glass.
“You don’t know me yet.”
His voice cracked slightly.
“But I’m your uncle.”
The baby moved.
Harrison swallowed.
“And nobody is taking you away from your mother.”
A nurse approached.
“She’s strong.”
Harrison looked at her.
“So is Khloe.”
“I believe you.”
His phone vibrated.
Daniel.
“Richard’s car just entered Harrington Tower.”
Harrison looked at the time.
“Office?”
“Underground garage.”
“Martin’s office is there.”
“Yes.”
“I’m coming.”
Twenty-five minutes later, Harrison entered the lobby of Harrington Tower.
The receptionist immediately stood.
“Mr. Cole.”
“Richard Harrington.”
“He’s unavailable.”
Harrison continued walking.
“Mr. Cole.”
Security approached.
Harrison held up a court order.
“Preservation notice.”
The guards stopped.
Harrison handed it to the head of security.
“No files leave this building.”
The man read the document.
“You can’t search without a warrant.”
“I’m not searching.”
Harrison smiled coldly.
“I’m making sure your employer doesn’t destroy evidence while detectives obtain one.”
The elevator opened.
Richard stepped out.
He wasn’t carrying Khloe’s bag anymore.
“Harrison.”
“Richard.”
Richard glanced at the security officers.
“Making a scene?”
“Preventing one.”
“You’re becoming emotional.”
Harrison smiled.
“That’s what you’re counting on.”
Richard’s smile disappeared.
Harrison continued.
“You want me angry.”
Silence.
“You want me reckless.”
Richard said nothing.
“You want me to make a mistake.”
Richard’s eyes narrowed.
“Go back to the hospital.”
“Where’s Khloe’s phone?”
“With her belongings.”
“No.”
“Then ask the hospital.”
“I did.”
Richard stepped closer.
“You’re her brother.”
“Yes.”
“I’m her husband.”
“For now.”
Richard’s expression hardened.
Harrison leaned closer.
“And you just made your first serious mistake.”
“What mistake?”
“You took property belonging to the victim of a criminal investigation.”
Richard laughed.
“My wife’s purse?”
“Her phone.”
The laughter stopped.
“Her encrypted drive.”
Silence.
“And whatever else you were afraid she had.”
Richard lowered his voice.
“You have no idea what you’re doing.”
Harrison looked almost amused.
“I’ve heard that sentence from twenty-three defendants.”
He paused.
“Twenty-one went to prison.”
Richard’s eyes darkened.
“What happened to the other two?”
“They cooperated.”
For several seconds, neither man moved.
Then Richard said something unexpected.
“You’re protecting the wrong person.”
Harrison’s face changed.
Richard walked past him.
Before entering the elevator, he turned.
“When Khloe wakes up, ask her about Bellweather.”
The doors closed.
Harrison immediately called Daniel.
“Search Bellweather.”
“Person?”
“Company.”
“Anything else?”
“No.”
Daniel called back nine minutes later.
“Harrison.”
“What?”
“I found it.”
“What is Bellweather?”
“A shell corporation.”
“Owned by Richard?”
“No.”
“Martin?”
“No.”
“Vanessa?”
“No.”
Harrison waited.
Daniel took a breath.
“It’s registered to Khloe.”
Harrison said nothing.
“Not Harrington.”
Daniel continued.
“Khloe Cole Harrington.”
Harrison stared at the elevator.
“How much money?”
“I’m still tracing it.”
“Estimate.”
Another pause.
“Forty-eight million dollars.”
For the first time since the courthouse, Harrison had no immediate answer.
His sister had a company he knew nothing about.
A company holding nearly fifty million dollars.
And Richard knew.
Harrison looked back toward the entrance.
The case had just become far more dangerous.
May you like
Because either Richard had framed Khloe—
Or Khloe had been hiding something from everyone.
