CHAPTER 26 GRANT’S FINAL PETITIONCHAPTER 26 GRANT’S FINAL PETITION
Rebecca raised her weapon.
The officers in the courtroom immediately drew theirs.
Robert Hale did not stop walking.
“You always were dramatic,” he said.
“You are under federal investigation.”
“I trained the people conducting that investigation.”
“You buried Samuel Mercer’s murder.”
“I prevented a state collapse.”
Rebecca’s hand remained steady.
“Move again.”
Hale stopped.
Grace began crying against Elena’s shoulder.
Judge Vane struck his gavel.
“Remove that weapon.”
Rebecca did not look at him.
“You have no lawful authority.”
Vane smiled.
“Lawful authority is simply power documented correctly.”
Adrian moved toward Elena.
“Take Grace through the side door.”
The door was locked.
Every exit had been secured.
Grant watched from the screen.
“Elena, this can be easy.”
She looked at him.
“You have never made anything easy.”
“Give them a blood sample. Once they confirm Grace is not the beneficiary, they will lose interest.”
“And if she is?”
Grant’s smile faded.
Hale answered for him.
“Then the trust must be transferred.”
“To whom?”
“The custodian.”
“You.”
“Temporarily.”
Elena laughed.
“You tried to take my child before she was born.”
“We tried to prevent Thomas from obtaining her.”
“By allowing Grant to push me down a staircase?”
Hale looked toward Grant.
“That was not authorized.”
Grant leaned forward.
“You said she could not leave the courthouse with the baby.”
“I said delay her.”
“You knew what Sloane and I planned.”
“I knew Sloane was unstable.”
Grant’s face changed.
For the first time, uncertainty appeared.
“You promised me control of Whitmore Development.”
“And you failed.”
Elena listened closely.
Grant had believed he was serving the conspiracy.
The conspiracy considered him disposable.
Vane ordered the officers forward.
Rebecca fired one shot into the ceiling.
Everyone stopped.
Smoke drifted above the courtroom.
“I have federal agents outside,” she said. “Open the doors.”
Hale smiled.
“No, you don’t.”
Rebecca checked her phone.
No signal.
Adrian attempted his.
Nothing.
The courtroom had been isolated.
Then the video screen changed.
Grant disappeared.
A hospital room appeared.
The unconscious man rescued from the east-wing fire lay tied to a chair.
A masked figure stood behind him.
A voice filled the courtroom.
“Bring Grace to the Mercer archive before sunset.”
Elena looked toward Hale.
His expression showed genuine surprise.
“You did not arrange this,” she said.
“No.”
The masked figure placed a knife against the man’s shirt collar.
“Fail to arrive, and the witness dies.”
The screen went black.
Judge Vane looked toward Hale.
“Who is interfering?”
Hale did not answer.
His eyes were fixed on the blank screen.
For the first time since entering the courtroom, he looked afraid.
“The Chief Custodian,” he whispered.
Vane’s face tightened.
“You are the custodian.”
Hale shook his head.
“I was only keeping the position occupied.”
May you like
A new message appeared on Elena’s phone.
SLOANE KNOWS WHO REPLACED ME.
