Chapter 13 - THE ASTER CONTINGENCY
The contractor was called Northline Response.
Officially, they handled executive security.
Unofficially, they specialized in removing people from difficult situations quietly.
The payment order was signed by Victoria.
The service request named me.
ELEANOR VANCE - VOLUNTARY TRANSPORT - CLINICAL EVALUATION.
They planned to take me from the gala to Dr. Reeve's clinic.
Not kidnap, their lawyers would say.
Transport.
Not confinement.
Evaluation.
Words again.
Polite words wrapped around ugly acts.
Northline's owner agreed to cooperate after seeing the forged medical report.
He said Victoria told them I might become "agitated" after being separated from Maya.
I thought of my daughter running across the ballroom and throwing herself at Gideon.
If she had not done that, Northline might have approached me before I reached my father.
Maya had not only exposed Genevieve.
She had changed the timing of everything.
Then Marcus found lobby footage from the Grand Aster.
Two Northline men were visible near the west doors.
One carried a medical transport bag.
Gideon watched the clip beside me.
"I should have protected you."
I looked at him.
"You tried to control me instead."
He nodded.
"Yes."
It was the first time my father had ever admitted that without explaining himself.
I took his hand.
Not forgiveness for everything.
A beginning.
Then the accountant called.
Victoria had initiated another transfer.
Not to the Caymans.
To a trust in Maya's name.
$12 million.
At first it looked like a gift.
Then Rachel found the condition.
Acceptance would appoint Victoria as co-trustee.
A trap disguised as generosity.
We rejected it.
Twenty minutes later, Victoria disappeared.
Her driver found her car empty at a private terminal.
Inside was one envelope.
Addressed to Julian.
He opened it on camera with police present.
May you like
The note contained six words.
YOU WERE ALWAYS THE DISPOSABLE SON.
