Chapter 8 - The War Begins
The first subpoena arrived Monday morning.
The second arrived before lunch.
By Tuesday, Harrington Commercial Group’s accounting department had received preservation orders covering twelve years of records.
Richard called Harrison at 6:14 p.m.
“You think this is funny?”
Harrison leaned back at his desk.
“No.”
“You’re destroying my company.”
“If paperwork can destroy your company, paperwork isn’t the problem.”
“You’re doing this because of Khloe.”
“I’m doing this because fraud irritates me.”
Richard lowered his voice.
“You don’t know what you’re dealing with.”
“That sentence usually sounds better before the subpoenas.”
Richard hung up.
Khloe was staying in Harrison’s guest apartment above his Manhattan office.
She barely slept.
The baby moved constantly.
At three in the morning, she found Harrison in the kitchen making coffee.
“You’re still awake?”
“So are you.”
“I’m pregnant.”
“I’m suing a psychopath.”
Khloe sat down.
“Do you ever get scared?”
“Constantly.”
She smiled faintly.
“No, you don’t.”
“Yes.”
“Of what?”
Harrison looked at her.
“Being too late.”
Khloe’s smile disappeared.
He sat beside her.
“I should’ve noticed.”
“Noticed what?”
“That you were unhappy.”
“I hid it.”
“You’re my sister. I should’ve known.”
Khloe reached over and took his hand.
“Harry, you can’t cross-examine life.”
“Watch me.”
The next morning, Marcus arrived with bad news.
“Vanessa is moving money.”
Harrison looked up.
“How?”
“She created a design consulting firm eighteen months ago. Richard transferred three-point-two million into it.”
Khloe stared.
“So she’s part of it.”
“Maybe.”
Harrison asked, “Can we prove knowledge?”
“Not yet.”
Then Marcus placed a photograph on the table.
Vanessa entering a private medical clinic.
Khloe frowned.
“So?”
Marcus hesitated.
“She told everyone she’s four months pregnant.”
“Yes.”
“The clinic specializes in fertility treatment.”
Khloe’s stomach tightened.
“What are you saying?”
“We obtained lawful records through the investigation.”
Harrison frowned.
“Marcus.”
“She isn’t pregnant.”
Khloe blinked.
“What?”
Marcus repeated it.
“Vanessa Kensington is not pregnant.”
Khloe sat back.
Her mind raced.
“She lied to Richard?”
“Looks that way.”
Harrison’s eyes narrowed.
“Why?”
Marcus handed him another document.
A life insurance policy.
Twenty million dollars.
Insured: Richard Harrington.
Beneficiary: Vanessa Kensington.
Effective date: six weeks earlier.
Khloe stared at it.
Richard thought he was using Vanessa.
Vanessa thought she was replacing Khloe.
But apparently Vanessa had her own plan.
Harrison looked at Marcus.
“Find out who bought the policy.”
Marcus swallowed.
“You’re not going to like the answer.”
“Try me.”
Marcus slid another page across the table.
Harrison read the signature.
Then looked at Khloe.
May you like
The policy hadn’t been purchased by Vanessa.
It had been authorized under Khloe’s name.
