Chapter 14 - THE MAN INSIDE HARRISON'S OFFICE
Harrison moved Khloe and Caroline to a secured private hospital floor.
Only four people knew the new security arrangement.
Harrison.
Detective Ruiz.
Khloe's physician.
And Harrison's senior associate, Daniel Mercer.
Daniel had worked for Harrison for nine years.
He had attended Christmas dinners.
He had held Khloe's bouquet while photographs were taken at her wedding.
Harrison trusted him.
That was the mistake.
At 2:03 a.m., someone attempted to enter the secured floor using a temporary legal visitor credential.
Security stopped the man.
He ran.
The badge belonged to Daniel Mercer.
Harrison drove directly to his office.
Daniel was already there.
He looked exhausted.
"Tell me I'm wrong."
Daniel said nothing.
Harrison closed the door.
"Tell me someone stole your credentials."
Daniel sat down.
"I didn't know they were going after Khloe."
Harrison stared at him.
"How long?"
Daniel looked at the floor.
"Three years."
The room became silent.
Richard had paid Daniel to leak information about litigation involving Harrington Commercial Group.
At first, Daniel described it as harmless.
Scheduling.
Witness lists.
Draft strategy.
Then came the trust case.
Richard paid him two hundred thousand dollars to provide copies of Harrison's planned filings.
"You knew about the injunction."
Daniel nodded.
"You knew Khloe found the forged documents."
Another nod.
Harrison's voice became almost inaudible.
"And you told Richard."
Daniel started crying.
"I didn't know Vanessa would push her."
Harrison slammed both hands onto the desk.
For the first time in years, he lost control.
"You told the man stealing from my sister exactly what she knew."
Daniel flinched.
"I was in debt."
"I trusted you."
"I know."
"My sister trusted you."
"I know."
"My niece almost died because you sold information."
Daniel covered his face.
Then he said something Harrison did not expect.
"Richard isn't the one running everything."
Harrison froze.
"What?"
Daniel looked up.
"Vanessa isn't either."
"Then who?"
Daniel swallowed.
"Marcus Vale."
Richard's chief operating officer.
Daniel reached into his briefcase.
"I copied something."
He placed a flash drive on the desk.
"Richard thinks he controls the shell companies."
"He doesn't."
"Marcus does."
Harrison stared at the drive.
May you like
Daniel whispered.
"And Marcus has been preparing to make Richard take the fall for all of it."
