Chapter 14 - The Forty-Second Floor
Richard sent Maya to the hospital with Mrs. Gable’s sister, who had arrived after police finally located Helen Gable at a motel outside the city. Helen was shaken but safe. Graham had threatened her family and paid for the room under a false name to keep her silent.
Richard wanted to stay with Maya.
But Graham was moving toward the company headquarters with access codes that had not yet been fully disabled.
Police reached the Sterling Tower first.
Graham was already inside.
He had used an executive emergency credential tied to Richard’s account.
The elevators were locked on the fortieth floor.
Richard, Daniel, and two detectives climbed the final two flights.
The forty-second floor was dark except for city light pouring through the glass walls.
Richard’s office door stood open.
The safe was empty.
On the desk sat a single envelope.
RICHARD.
Inside was a photograph of Eleanor holding newborn Maya.
On the back, Graham had written:
YOU BUILT YOUR EMPIRE BY TRUSTING THE WRONG PEOPLE TO HANDLE THE DETAILS.
Richard crushed the card in his fist.
Daniel checked the security feed.
“Roof access.”
They ran.
Graham stood near the rooftop helipad holding a document case.
Wind whipped his coat around him.
“Stop!” a detective shouted.
Graham smiled.
“Richard. Finally paying attention.”
“Put the case down.”
“You think Victoria invented this?” Graham called. “She was greedy. I was practical.”
“You hurt a child.”
“I created leverage.”
Richard took a step forward.
Graham lifted the case over the roof edge.
“One more step and your evidence disappears onto Madison Avenue.”
Richard stopped.
Graham laughed.
Then a voice came through Richard’s phone.
Victoria.
“I know what he wants,” she said.
May you like
Richard looked at the screen.
“He doesn’t want money,” Victoria continued. “He wants you to admit why he hates you.”
