Chapter 5 - THE DEAD MAN’S WARNING
Ethan inserted the flash drive into an offline laptop.
A video appeared.
His father filled the screen.
Thomas Hargrove looked thinner than Ethan remembered.
Older.
Tired.
But his voice was steady.
“Ethan, if you’re watching this, I’m probably gone.”
Ethan’s throat tightened.
“I made mistakes.”
“Some were business mistakes.”
“One was a crime.”
Ethan glanced at Evelyn.
She lowered her eyes.
Thomas continued.
“Charles Mercer knows about that crime.”
“He used it to control me.”
“But what Charles never understood is that I kept records too.”
Documents appeared on the drive.
Bank transfers.
Account numbers.
Internal messages.
Names.
Dozens of names.
Then Thomas said something Ethan hadn’t expected.
“The merger is the endgame.”
Ethan leaned closer.
“If Charles succeeds in merging Hargrove Industries with Westbridge Global, he gains access to a financial structure large enough to bury every illegal transfer permanently.”
Ethan felt his stomach drop.
“The merger isn’t about growth.”
“It’s about destroying evidence.”
The video continued.
“I couldn’t stop him without destroying the company and possibly sending myself to prison.”
“That was cowardice.”
“I told myself I was protecting you.”
“I was really protecting myself.”
Ethan looked toward Evelyn.
Tears stood in her eyes.
His father continued.
“Don’t repeat my mistake.”
“If Charles threatens the company, let the company burn.”
“If he threatens your family, burn his world first.”
The video ended.
Ethan sat motionless.
Then his phone rang.
Grace.
He answered immediately.
“Hey.”
Her voice sounded stronger.
“Where are you?”
“At the house.”
“You found something.”
It wasn’t a question.
“Yes.”
“Charles?”
“Yes.”
“Ethan, listen to me.”
He heard fear in her voice.
“There was a nurse.”
“Rebecca.”
Grace went silent.
“How do you know?”
“My mother told me.”
“Ethan, she came to the hospital.”
His blood froze.
“When?”
“Ten minutes ago.”
“Where is she now?”
“I don’t know.”
Ethan was already moving.
“Lock your door.”
“Ethan—”
“Grace, lock it now.”
He ran from the library.
“Martin!”
Martin appeared from the hall.
“Drive.”
They raced toward the hospital.
Ethan called hospital security.
By the time he arrived, two guards were outside Grace’s room.
Grace was sitting upright.
Terrified.
But safe.
Ethan crossed the room and held her.
“She said she was from maternity.”
Grace whispered against his shoulder.
“She tried to change my IV.”
Ethan pulled back.
“Did she touch it?”
“No.”
“I recognized her.”
Security recovered the woman on hallway footage.
She wore scrubs.
A surgical mask covered most of her face.
But Grace pointed at the screen.
“That’s her.”
Ethan stared at the image.
“Can you identify her?”
The security officer nodded.
“We’re checking badge access.”
Five minutes later, they had a name.
Rebecca Sloan.
Former private nurse.
Currently employed by a medical company Ethan recognized immediately.
Westbridge Global Health Services.
The company Hargrove Industries was supposed to merge with in less than two hours.
Grace looked at him.
“Now you know.”
Ethan nodded.
“I know enough.”
“What are you going to do?”
He checked the time.
7:42 a.m.
The board would gather at nine.
Charles would expect Ethan to sign.
Ethan kissed Grace’s forehead.
“I’m going to give Charles exactly what he wants.”
Grace frowned.
“The merger?”
May you like
Ethan looked at her.
“A meeting.”
