Chapter 5 - The Accident Clause
Alder Crown’s legal counsel arrived eighteen minutes later.
The lead attorney, Naomi Pierce, read the document beneath the lights of the driveway.
Her face became harder with every page.
“This isn’t merely a custody authorization.”
Cassidy stood wrapped in a blanket provided by the security team.
“What is it?”
Naomi pointed to a paragraph buried inside the medical provisions.
“This clause becomes effective if you suffer severe incapacity within thirty days before or after delivery.”
Cassidy stared at the page.
“Define severe incapacity.”
“Coma.”
Naomi paused.
“Neurological impairment.”
Another pause.
“Or death.”
Brendan immediately stepped forward.
“That language came from a template.”
Naomi looked at him.
“No legitimate maternal authorization template would combine emergency custody and trust-control powers this way.”
Evelyn’s voice became sharp.
“You’re twisting it.”
Naomi ignored her.
She turned another page.
“This signature is also notarized.”
Cassidy looked closer.
Her supposed signature appeared above a seal.
The notary was identified as Janice Doran.
Cassidy knew the name.
Janice worked in Alder Crown’s executive administration department.
Naomi called the number associated with Janice.
No answer.
Gabriel’s team tried her home address.
Nothing.
Then one of the forensic analysts approached.
“We found an encrypted folder on Mr. Vale’s external drive.”
Martin looked toward him sharply.
Gabriel noticed.
“Open it.”
The analyst hesitated.
“We need authorization.”
Cassidy nodded.
“You have it.”
Martin shouted.
“No.”
Everyone turned.
“That drive contains confidential board material.”
Cassidy walked toward him.
“I am the chair of that board.”
Martin’s face tightened.
“You don’t understand what you’re doing.”
“Then explain it.”
He said nothing.
The encryption was bypassed minutes later.
A folder appeared.
PROJECT HARBOR.
Inside were medical schedules.
Cassidy’s obstetric appointments.
Her hospital registration.
Her expected delivery window.
Even the name of her obstetrician.
Cassidy’s stomach tightened painfully.
Naomi opened another file.
It contained a timeline.
WEEK 34.
WEEK 35.
WEEK 36.
TRANSFER WINDOW.
EMERGENCY EVENT.
GUARDIANSHIP ACTIVATION.
TRUST ACCESS.
Cassidy stopped reading.
Gabriel moved closer.
“Are you feeling all right?”
She nodded, although she was not.
The final column contained an abbreviation.
C.D.
Cassidy pointed.
“What does that mean?”
Nobody answered.
Naomi opened a second spreadsheet.
This one contained expenses.
Private investigator.
Medical consultant.
Document preparation.
Hospital liaison.
Pharmaceutical procurement.
Cassidy felt Gabriel stiffen beside her.
“Pharmaceutical?”
The analyst enlarged the line.
A payment of $180,000 had gone to a company called Crestwell Clinical Logistics.
Cassidy had never heard of it.
Martin suddenly looked sick.
Brendan stared at the ground.
Vanessa moved farther away from him.
Cassidy looked at her former husband.
“What were you going to put in my body?”
Brendan’s head snapped up.
“Nothing.”
“Then why is somebody paying for pharmaceuticals around my delivery date?”
“I don’t know.”
Cassidy stepped closer.
“Look me in the eyes and say that.”
Brendan tried.
He could not hold her gaze.
Behind them, Vanessa whispered.
“Oh my God.”
Cassidy turned.
Vanessa was holding Brendan’s second phone.
The screen displayed a message.
A message sent that morning.
May you like
Everything is ready.
Once she signs, Harbor moves forward.
