Chapter 14 - Cassidy Sets a Trap
Victor wanted the original trust key.
He would receive one.
Just not the real one.
The Hale trust used an offline cryptographic authorization device created years before.
Without it, no single executive could transfer controlling voting rights.
Victor apparently believed Cassidy carried the device personally.
She did not.
The genuine key was held in a secure bank vault requiring three-party authorization.
Cassidy ordered a replica prepared.
Gabriel hated the plan.
“You’re pregnant.”
“I noticed.”
“You cannot walk into a location controlled by Sloane.”
“I’m not planning to.”
Cassidy studied the Hale estate floor plan.
Her grandfather had renovated the property long before smart homes became common.
He believed physical security mattered more than digital convenience.
There were hidden service corridors.
Mechanical locks.
A secure communications room behind the library.
Victor probably knew about none of them.
Cassidy did.
She had played inside those corridors as a child.
The operation was coordinated with federal agents.
Cassidy would appear to arrive alone.
Gabriel’s team would already be inside through an old maintenance tunnel.
A decoy vehicle would transport Cassidy from the medical facility.
Her physician reluctantly approved a short trip under strict monitoring.
“You feel anything unusual, we leave,” Hannah said.
Cassidy nodded.
“No arguments.”
“I understand.”
“You always say that right before arguing.”
Cassidy almost smiled.
At nine that evening, the black sedan entered the Hale estate.
Cassidy stepped out.
Her pregnancy was impossible to hide.
Neither was her anger.
The front door opened.
Victor Sloane stood inside.
He was sixty-one.
Silver-haired.
Perfectly dressed.
Calm.
“You look remarkably composed.”
Cassidy walked past him.
“You look remarkably comfortable committing felonies in my grandfather’s house.”
Victor smiled.
“That attitude is why I always admired you.”
“You tried to steal my company.”
“I tried to buy it.”
“You funded people who planned to drug me and take my child.”
Victor’s smile faded.
“That aspect became unnecessarily emotional.”
Cassidy stared at him.
“My child was a line item to you.”
“Everything is a line item eventually.”
They entered the library.
Evelyn was there.
So was Owen Pike.
Cassidy stopped.
Evelyn looked exhausted.
“You should have signed the papers when we asked.”
Cassidy ignored her.
Victor held out his hand.
“The key.”
Cassidy removed the replica from her coat pocket.
Victor’s eyes followed it.
“First, my mother.”
“She’s unharmed.”
“Then your leverage is imaginary.”
Victor smiled.
“Not entirely.”
A door opened behind Cassidy.
Two men entered.
Between them walked Brendan.
His hands were bound.
His face was bruised.
Cassidy’s expression changed despite herself.
Brendan looked at her.
“I’m sorry.”
Victor sighed.
“Mr. Mercer became inconveniently cooperative with authorities.”
Evelyn stared at her son in horror.
Victor continued.
“So tonight, Cassidy, you will give me the key.”
He looked toward Brendan.
“Or your former husband becomes the first casualty of his mother’s ambition.”
Cassidy slowly raised the replica.
May you like
Victor believed he had created an impossible choice.
He had no idea Cassidy had already activated the second half of Protocol 7.
