Chương 6
“Bring her in for an interview,” Park told her partner. “Do not accuse her. Do not mention the warehouse.”
Adrian’s phone rang.
Owen Mercer’s name appeared on the screen.
Park nodded for him to answer on speaker.
“Adrian,” Owen said. “I’ve been trying to reach you. We have a serious problem.”
Owen always sounded as though he had been born disappointed. He was sixty-one, careful with language, and proud of never raising his voice.
“What problem?”
“A video was sent to three board members and at least two reporters.”
Mara stopped moving.
“What video?” Adrian asked.
“A still image, mostly. Mara seated in what appears to be a storage room. The Vale crest is visible on her wrist. A man off camera says she is being held on your instruction until Celia returns property belonging to the family.”
Adrian’s eyes met Park’s.
“What property?”
“The recording does not say.”
“Who sent it?”
“An anonymous account. The message claims additional material will be released at eight-thirty unless the board invokes the emergency conduct provision and places you on administrative leave.”
The doctor closed the examination-room door.
Mara stared at Adrian.
“Is the image public?” he asked.
“Not yet. The reporters contacted communications for comment. Lydia is trying to contain it.”
“Lydia is with the police.”
Silence.
Owen recovered first.
“Why?”
“Because Mara was abducted.”
Another silence, longer this time.
“I was told she was missing,” Owen said. “I wasn’t told she had been found.”
“Who told you she was missing?”
“Celia’s assistant called my office.”
“Name.”
“Dana Wu.”
Park wrote it down.
“Why would Celia’s assistant call general counsel?” Adrian asked.
“Because your custody agreement requires notification of the family office after a security incident.”
“Celia was unconscious.”
“I don’t know what you want me to say.”
“The truth generally works.”
Owen exhaled through his nose.
“Dana received an automated alert from Mara’s school when the authorized vehicle failed to complete its destination check-in. She called Celia and got no answer. Then she called us.”
“What time?”
“Six fourteen.”
“Why didn’t you call me?”
“I called Lydia. She said Victor was handling it.”
Victor stepped into the room.
“No one contacted me before Mara entered the restaurant.”
Owen did not speak.
“Who told Lydia I was handling it?” Victor asked.
“I don’t know.”
“You just said she did.”
“I said Lydia told me you were handling it. I do not know who told her.”
Adrian’s voice became quiet.
“Preserve every message, access log, and recording in the family office. Do not contact anyone else.”
“That may not be possible.”
“Why?”
“The board has called an emergency meeting for nine.”
“At whose request?”
“Three directors submitted written demand.”
“Names.”
Owen gave them: Malcolm Rusk, Sarah Devlin, and Lydia Crane.
Park looked at Adrian.
Lydia had requested his removal before the deadline in the anonymous threat.
“Did Lydia see the video before she signed?” Adrian asked.
“She forwarded it to me.”
“What time?”
“Seven thirty-two.”
Six minutes before her first call to Adrian.
“Where did she receive it?”
“You need to ask her.”
“I am asking you.”
“I don’t have access to her private account.”
“You have access to everything else.”
Mara looked down at the bent paper cup.
Owen continued.
“The board is frightened. The image appears authentic. Your name, your crest, a company vehicle, and a child involved in a custody dispute—it is designed to be catastrophic.”
“Designed by whom?”
“If I knew, I would have led with that.”
“You would have led with whatever protected you.”
Owen’s voice cooled.
“I have protected this family for twenty-seven years.”
“That wasn’t a denial.”
Park raised a hand, signaling Adrian to stop.
He ended the call anyway.
Mara was still looking at the cup.
“Was that the picture?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“Are people going to think you did it?”
“Some will.”
“Because they already don’t like you.”
“That will help.”
She glanced up, uncertain whether he was making a joke.
It was the closest he could come.
Park’s partner opened the door and asked to speak privately. They stepped into the hall. Adrian could see Lydia at the far end between two officers. She had removed her black coat. Beneath it she wore a dark green suit, severe and perfectly fitted. Her pearl earrings caught the hospital light when she turned her head.
Lydia saw Adrian through the glass panel.
Concern crossed her face with convincing speed.
She moved toward the examination room.
An officer stopped her.
“Adrian, is Mara—”
“You’ll speak to Detective Park first,” Adrian said.
Lydia stared at him.
“What happened to her?”
“Someone used a Vale vehicle to take her from school.”
Her eyes flicked to Victor.
“That isn’t possible.”
Mara spoke from inside the room.
“It happened.”
Lydia’s face changed again. This time the reaction arrived more slowly.
“Mara.”
She stepped toward the door. The officer blocked her.
“Sweetheart, I am so sorry.”
Mara’s fingers closed around the silver pendant.
Lydia wore a ring on her right hand: small pearls set around a green stone. When her fingers tightened, the pearls touched one another with a dry, delicate click.
Mara stared at it.
Adrian followed her gaze.
“The sound,” Mara whispered.
Lydia stopped.
“What sound?”
“The beads.”
No one moved.
Lydia looked at her ring, then back at Mara.
“I don’t understand.”
“The woman on the phone made that sound.”
Lydia’s concern gave way to something less readable.
Park returned to the doorway.
“Ms. Crane, come with me.”
“Detective, I have no idea what she means.”
“You can explain in an interview room.”
“I am the chief operating officer of a company facing an active extortion attempt. The board meets in less than an hour.”
“Then I’ll try not to waste your time.”
Lydia looked at Adrian.
“You cannot seriously believe I would harm her.”
Adrian’s face remained still.
“I believe the wrong answer will cost you more than the meeting.”
Lydia’s chin lifted.
“There he is.”
May you like
“What does that mean?” Park asked.
“It means he prefers suspicion to uncertainty. Suspicion gives him someone to punish.”
