Chapter 12 - The Phone
Richard made it sixty feet.
A security officer tackled him near the parking garage.
His phone slid across the concrete.
Detective Ruiz bagged it.
“Now I really want to know what’s on this thing.”
Richard said nothing.
By morning, investigators had enough probable cause to search the device.
What they found changed everything.
Deleted messages.
Encrypted chats.
Payments.
One thread between Richard and a private security contractor.
Need pressure increased before Thursday.
Reply:
Physical?
Richard:
Not enough for charges. Enough to scare her.
Harrison read the messages twice.
Khloe had been followed.
Her car had been tampered with.
Someone had broken into her apartment.
Richard had orchestrated it.
But the final message was worse.
If Vanessa loses control, let her.
Harrison looked at Ruiz.
“He knew.”
“He predicted a confrontation.”
“He encouraged it.”
“That’s what it looks like.”
Then forensic technicians recovered deleted audio.
Vanessa’s recording.
Richard’s voice.
“If Khloe gets hurt, the case gets delayed.”
Another man asked, “What if she gets seriously hurt?”
Richard answered:
“Then I get more time.”
Silence filled the room.
Ruiz said, “That’s not a murder order.”
“No.”
“But it’s ugly.”
“It’s conspiracy if we can connect the pressure campaign.”
“We’re working on it.”
At the hospital, Khloe woke twenty hours after surgery.
Harrison was beside her.
Her first word was:
“Baby?”
“Alive.”
She cried.
“She’s alive?”
“She’s stubborn.”
Khloe laughed weakly.
“Cole family.”
“Unfortunately.”
“Can I see her?”
“When the doctor clears you.”
Her face changed.
“Vanessa?”
“Arrested.”
“Richard?”
“Also having a terrible week.”
Khloe closed her eyes.
“I don’t want revenge, Harry.”
“I know.”
“I mean it.”
“So do I.”
She looked at him.
“I want the truth.”
Harrison nodded.
“That’s worse for him.”
A nurse entered.
“You have five minutes with the NICU camera.”
She placed a tablet in Khloe’s hands.
The screen showed a tiny baby beneath warm lights.
Khloe pressed trembling fingers against the glass.
“Oh my God.”
Harrison looked away.
Then his phone vibrated.
Marcus.
He stepped into the hall.
“What?”
Marcus’s voice was urgent.
“We found the person Richard paid.”
“Security contractor?”
“Yes.”
“Bring him in.”
“We can’t.”
“Why?”
Marcus paused.
“He’s dead.”
Harrison went still.
“When?”
“Last night.”
“How?”
“Police are calling it suicide.”
Harrison’s eyes hardened.
“And you?”
May you like
Marcus answered quietly.
“I’m calling it cleanup.”
