Chapter 5 - Black Harbor
Arthur's expression did not change when Dominic placed the note on the conference table.
"Black Harbor," Dominic said. "Explain it."
The other board members shifted.
Arthur looked at each of them before answering.
"It's an old project name."
"For what?"
"A shipping terminal proposal that never happened."
"Why would my therapist mention it while running for her life?"
Arthur's jaw tightened. "Perhaps because somebody wants you to think I am involved."
Dominic slid the note toward him.
Arthur did not touch it.
That told Dominic more than the words did.
He turned to board member Nathan Cole. "You remember Black Harbor?"
Nathan hesitated. "A feasibility study. Ten years ago. Maybe eleven."
Eleven.
The same year Caleb Rowan died.
Dominic felt the pieces begin to move.
Vincent pulled old company archives while Mercer examined Dominic's medication packs.
At 12:03 a.m., Mercer said, "We have another problem."
He held two identical capsules beneath a desk lamp.
"Your anti-inflammatory prescription was changed six days ago."
"By you?"
"No."
"What is in it?"
"I don't know yet. But the imprint doesn't match what I prescribed."
Dominic gave the bottle to Vincent.
Arthur rose. "This has gone far enough."
"Sit down."
"You cannot imprison a board because of a child's story and a bottle of pills."
"Then call the police."
Arthur stared at him.
Dominic leaned forward. "You keep threatening to do that. You never do."
Silence.
Then one of the board members, Victor Lane, pushed back his chair.
"Dominic, there's something you should know."
Arthur turned sharply. "Victor."
Victor ignored him.
Arthur's face hardened.
Victor continued. "I thought it was hypothetical."
Dominic felt no triumph.
Only cold clarity.
"What else?"
Victor looked terrified now.
"He also asked what would happen if your recovery never improved."
A phone rang somewhere inside Arthur's confiscated briefcase.
Everyone froze.
Vincent opened it.
The phone was not Arthur's registered device.
On the screen was one incoming message.
May you like
THE GIRL IS STILL INSIDE.
Arthur finally lost color.
