Chapter 16 - The Coward Who Became Dangerous
Preston handed Ethan a folder of encrypted message printouts.
Malcolm had been more than a silent participant.
When Eleanor's arrest threatened to expose the old financial scheme, Malcolm panicked. He feared prison, public disgrace, and the collapse of Vance Holdings.
So he tried to finish the plan Eleanor had started.
Keep Sarah from giving birth.
Keep the trust from activating.
Keep the old records under family control.
"Why are you telling me this?" Ethan asked.
Preston laughed bitterly. "Because Malcolm has decided I'm next."
A sound came from the far end of the warehouse.
Metal scraping concrete.
Ethan turned.
Preston's face went white.
"He found me."
A shot cracked into a steel beam overhead.
Ethan dove behind a forklift.
Police rushed the building from both entrances.
The gunman fled through a loading door but was caught outside.
He was a private security contractor connected to Malcolm's holding company.
Preston was arrested on conspiracy and fraud charges before the ambulance even left.
His cooperation agreement began that night.
He admitted forging Sarah's signature.
He admitted hiding Robert's toxicology result.
He admitted paying the stable employee connected to Catherine's saddle.
But he insisted Eleanor had ordered Catherine's accident, not Robert's death.
Robert's drugging, he said, had been Eleanor acting alone.
Malcolm's crimes came later.
Three conspiracies overlapping for one reason: money protected by silence.
Police moved to arrest Malcolm.
He was gone.
At the hospital, Sarah suddenly grabbed the bed rail.
A contraction rolled through her harder than any before.
The nurse checked her quickly.
May you like
Then looked up.
"Sarah, you're in labor."
