Chapter 9 - The Second Cassidy
Gabriel refused to take Cassidy to the penthouse.
Instead, a tactical security unit entered the building while she watched the live feed from a secure conference room.
The first camera showed an empty foyer.
The second showed the hallway.
The third revealed an open safe.
Cassidy leaned closer.
“That safe requires biometrics.”
Gabriel nodded.
“There are ways to spoof older biometric systems.”
“Not that one.”
Gabriel did not answer.
The team reached Cassidy’s study.
A figure moved near the desk.
“Hands where we can see them.”
The woman turned.
Cassidy stared at the screen.
Her name was Janice Doran.
The missing Alder Crown notary.
Janice looked exhausted.
Her clothes were wrinkled.
Her hands shook.
She did not resist.
Within minutes, Gabriel established a secure video call.
Janice appeared on the screen.
“Ms. Hale.”
Cassidy’s voice was controlled.
“How did you enter my home?”
Janice began crying.
“I’m sorry.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
“They gave me your backup access token.”
“Who?”
Janice swallowed.
“Mr. Vale.”
Cassidy leaned forward.
“Why are you here?”
“To delete something.”
“What?”
“A file.”
“Which file?”
Janice looked around nervously.
“They said my family would be ruined.”
Cassidy remained silent.
Janice continued.
“My husband’s company owes Mercer Development almost four million dollars.”
Cassidy understood.
Evelyn had leverage.
“What did they make you do?”
“I notarized the guardianship forms.”
“Knowing my signature was forged?”
Janice nodded.
“I also authenticated copies of your trust.”
Cassidy felt anger rise.
“What file were you supposed to delete tonight?”
“A video.”
Gabriel looked sharply toward the screen.
“What video?”
Janice wiped her face.
“Martin recorded meetings.”
“Why?”
“He didn’t trust Evelyn.”
Cassidy almost smiled at the irony.
Criminal conspirators rarely trusted one another.
“Where is it?”
“In your succession archive.”
Janice gave them the file path.
Gabriel’s analysts retrieved it remotely.
The video opened.
The date was six weeks earlier.
Evelyn sat at a conference table.
Martin sat opposite her.
Brendan paced beside the window.
Dr. Malcolm Voss was there too.
Cassidy’s skin went cold.
The audio was perfectly clear.
Brendan said, “I don’t want Cassidy dead.”
Evelyn answered, “Nobody said dead.”
Dr. Voss leaned forward.
“A prolonged medically induced state carries risks.”
Evelyn looked irritated.
“How long?”
“Forty-eight to seventy-two hours should be sufficient.”
Martin asked, “For the court order?”
Evelyn replied, “For everything.”
Then she placed a photograph on the table.
An ultrasound photograph.
Cassidy’s daughter.
Evelyn tapped it with one manicured finger.
“Once the child is in my custody, Alder Crown becomes ours to control.”
Brendan whispered something.
The microphone barely caught it.
Cassidy increased the volume.
Brendan said, “And if Cassidy wakes up too soon?”
Evelyn smiled.
“Then we make sure everyone believes she’s dangerous.”
Cassidy stared at the frozen frame.
May you like
Her former mother-in-law had not planned one crime.
She had designed an entire reality in which Cassidy would wake up and nobody would believe her.
