Chapter 10 - THE OFFER
At 1:05 p.m., Richard asked me to meet him alone in his office.
I brought Maya anyway.
He didn’t argue.
That told me how much the day had changed.
He poured himself a drink.
Maya looked at the glass.
“It’s one in the afternoon.”
Richard took a sip.
“It’s been a long morning.”
I stayed standing.
“Claire Donovan.”
His hand stopped.
So did his face.
Barely.
But I saw it.
“What about her?”
“She’s talking.”
He looked at me for several seconds.
Then put the glass down.
“What does she want?”
“Nothing.”
“Everyone wants something.”
“She wants Grant held accountable.”
Richard rubbed his forehead.
“I told Meredith that situation would come back.”
“You covered it up.”
“I contained it.”
“Two broken ribs.”
He looked away.
My voice sharpened.
“You paid people to make it disappear.”
“I paid a settlement.”
“You leaned on her employer.”
“Meredith handled Claire.”
I laughed.
“So when it’s ugly, suddenly your wife has agency?”
His eyes hardened.
“Be careful.”
“Why?”
I stepped closer.
“You going to hit me too?”
He flinched.
Good.
Richard opened a drawer.
Pulled out a document.
Placed it on the desk.
“Five million dollars.”
Maya stared at him.
“What?”
“For Elena.”
I looked at the document.
Settlement agreement.
Confidentiality terms.
Release of claims.
Withdrawal from the Northline vote.
Five million dollars.
Richard folded his hands.
“You walk away from Grant. You keep your inheritance. You sign no additional complaints. You make no public statements.”
Maya laughed out loud.
“You’re bribing a cooperating witness during an active federal investigation?”
Richard looked irritated.
“I’m offering a civil settlement.”
“You’re offering stupidity.”
He ignored her.
“Elena, you don’t know what happens when companies like this collapse.”
“I know what happens when people like you never face consequences.”
“Twelve thousand employees.”
“Stop hiding behind them.”
“Pensions. Families. Hospitals. Suppliers.”
“Then cooperate with investigators and save what can be saved.”
His voice rose.
“You think regulators care about saving companies?”
“I think patients care about medical products being safe.”
He stood.
“I can make this easy for you.”
“No.”
“Ten million.”
Maya blinked.
I didn’t.
“No.”
“Fifteen.”
“No.”
“Twenty.”
I almost smiled.
“My father taught chemistry in a public high school for thirty-one years.”
Richard stared at me.
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“He used to tell me there are reactions you can stop before they start.”
I pushed the settlement back toward him.
“And reactions you can’t stop once you’ve added the wrong ingredient.”
His phone buzzed.
He looked down.
His face changed.
“What?”
He didn’t answer.
I walked around the desk and looked at the screen.
WHITMORE MEDICAL STOCK HALTED PENDING MATERIAL DISCLOSURE.
Maya whispered, “That was fast.”
Richard sank back into his chair.
Then my own phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
“Elena Vale?”
“Yes.”
“This is Detective Harmon with the Westchester County Police.”
My stomach tightened.
“We need to speak with you regarding Grant Whitmore.”
I looked at Maya.
“What happened?”
The detective paused.
“We found a vehicle registered to Mr. Whitmore abandoned near your apartment.”
May you like
My skin went cold.
Then he added, “And there was a loaded handgun inside.”
