Chapter 3 - THE RED FOLDER
Richard opened the door so fast Mark nearly fell into him.
"What folder?"
Mark froze.
Claudia stood down the hall with one hand on her purse.
"What are you talking about?" she asked.
"Put the purse on the table."
"You don't get to search me."
Richard's security chief, Elena Ruiz, appeared at the stairs.
"Everything okay?"
"No. Lock the exterior doors. Nobody leaves with Noah, company devices, or financial documents until Dana Brooks gets here."
Mark's face changed. "You can't imprison us."
"Walk into the snow if you want. Your keys are downstairs."
Richard turned back to Noah.
"Where did you get the wood for the plane?"
"From the old blue box in Dad's office."
Mark swore.
"What box?"
Noah's eyes dropped. "Mom's box."
Richard took the airplane and turned it over.
On the underside of one wing were two faded initials: S.H.
Sarah Hale.
Mark's first wife. Noah's mother. Dead six years.
Richard remembered the cedar keepsake box he had built for Sarah himself.
"Why was Sarah's box cut apart?"
Mark shrugged. "It was junk."
Noah shook his head. "Claudia broke it. She was looking for the silver key."
Claudia went pale.
Richard saw it.
Elena searched the guest room with Claudia watching. Inside an open suitcase was a thick red folder.
Richard opened it.
The first page read:
PETITION FOR EMERGENCY DETERMINATION OF INCAPACITY - RICHARD HALE.
The next page carried a doctor's report Richard had never seen.
The third named Mark as temporary controller of Hale family assets.
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At the bottom was Richard's signature.
Except Richard had never signed it.
