Chapter 15 - The Trap on Sovereign
“Do not touch it,” Naomi said.
Marcus remained on speaker.
“I already did.”
Naomi closed her eyes.
Laura said, “What do you mean?”
“I opened the outer panel.”
“You said it was already open.”
“The compartment was unlocked. I moved the chronometer.”
Robert swore.
“It’s a trap.”
Marcus went silent.
Then he understood too.
If Calvin Rusk had stolen the ledger from Ethan’s apartment and it appeared in Richard’s private yacht compartment exactly when Marcus went searching for evidence, there was only one reason.
Richard wanted someone caught with it.
“Get out of the room,” Laura said.
Marcus whispered, “Too late.”
A man’s voice sounded behind him.
“Step away from the cabinet.”
Security.
The call ended.
Laura stood frozen.
Robert said, “Richard knew.”
Naomi was already dialing.
“Knew Marcus was switching sides, yes.”
Ethan looked sick.
“This is because I moved the ledger.”
“No,” Laura replied. “Richard chose to steal it.”
“But I gave him the opportunity.”
“Yes.”
She did not soften it.
Consequences mattered.
Twenty minutes later Marcus called from Richard’s private office.
Richard was with him.
“Laura,” Richard said.
She put the call on speaker.
“What did you do?”
Richard chuckled.
“Your husband broke into a private records compartment and attempted to steal company property.”
“That ledger was stolen from Ethan’s apartment.”
“A convenient story.”
“We have security footage identifying Calvin Rusk.”
“I employ dozens of contractors.”
“Police can ask him.”
“They should.”
Richard sounded utterly calm.
Then he said, “I’m willing to resolve this.”
Laura laughed.
“Another price?”
“Your brother avoids a prolonged trade-secret lawsuit. Robert keeps what little money he has. Marcus avoids termination for cause.”
“And?”
“You withdraw all allegations.”
“Northgate closes.”
“Yes.”
“Dad gives up his ownership claim.”
“Yes.”
“Claudia stays silent.”
“If she is wise.”
Laura’s expression hardened.
“You sent someone to photograph her grandson.”
Richard’s voice turned offended.
“I have no idea what you mean.”
“Of course.”
“Laura, you have spent your life around serious people. Stop behaving like a child who believes accusation equals proof.”
Robert leaned toward the phone.
“You put the ledger on your yacht because you wanted Marcus caught holding it.”
Richard laughed.
“Robert. Still telling stories.”
“Why humiliate me at dinner?”
The question changed Richard’s breathing.
Only slightly.
Robert continued.
“You could have demanded the folder privately. You could have sent lawyers. You wanted me small before you asked for it.”
Richard said nothing.
“You needed the room to believe I was nothing.”
“Because you are.”
Robert smiled sadly.
“There he is.”
Richard’s voice hardened.
“You had talent once. You could have been rich.”
“I was rich.”
“No. You were comfortable.”
Laura watched her father.
Richard continued.
“You had a company worth maybe sixty million. I turned it into the foundation of a global enterprise.”
“You stole it.”
“I improved it.”
“By framing me.”
“You signed the confession.”
Laura interrupted.
“You paid for my mother’s treatment to force him.”
“I saved your mother’s life for eighteen months.”
Robert’s face tightened.
Richard continued.
“You should be thanking me.”
Laura felt revulsion.
“You really believe that.”
“I believe results matter.”
“And people?”
“People are results, eventually.”
Marcus spoke faintly in the background.
“Dad, stop.”
Richard snapped, “Be quiet.”
Laura heard a chair scrape.
Marcus said, “No.”
Richard’s voice lowered.
“You would choose her after she already left you?”
“I’m choosing not to become you.”
Silence.
Laura’s throat tightened.
Richard laughed.
“You already are.”
The line went dead.
Naomi looked at Laura.
“That conversation would be useful if lawfully recorded.”
“It wasn’t.”
Robert looked toward the window.
“He knows he can still win.”
Laura nodded.
“Because Northgate closes tomorrow.”
Naomi checked her email.
“Maybe not.”
Everyone turned.
She read quickly.
“Atlantic Commonwealth Bank has requested emergency status from Northgate regarding potential defects in Vale Maritime’s pledged collateral.”
Laura’s pulse quickened.
“Will Northgate delay?”
“Unknown.”
Then another email arrived.
Naomi’s expression changed.
“What?”
“Calvin Rusk’s lawyer contacted police.”
Ethan stepped forward.
“He’s talking?”
“Apparently.”
They drove to Cambridge Police headquarters that evening.
They were not allowed to interview Calvin.
But his attorney authorized disclosure of one fact through investigators.
Calvin admitted entering Ethan’s apartment.
He claimed he had been told the ledger belonged to Vale Maritime and had been stolen.
“Who told him?” Laura asked.
The detective shook his head.
“He’ll discuss that only under a cooperation agreement.”
“Richard.”
“Maybe.”
“Martin?”
“Maybe.”
“Marcus?”
Laura hated that she had to ask.
The detective looked at her.
“Mr. Rusk says the instruction came through Vale outside counsel.”
Martin Sloane.
Naomi smiled thinly.
“That is something.”
Then the detective added:
“Rusk also says after retrieving the ledger, he delivered it to a man at Newport Harbor.”
“Who?”
“We’re verifying.”
“Richard?”
“No.”
“Martin?”
“No.”
Laura’s stomach tightened.
“Who?”
The detective looked uncomfortable.
“Your husband.”
Silence.
Laura felt every eye move toward her.
“No.”
The detective slid a photograph across the table.
It showed Calvin beside a dock.
Another man stood near him.
Tall.
Dark coat.
Marcus.
Timestamp: 9:07 a.m.
The same morning the ledger disappeared.
May you like
Laura stared at the image.
Once again, Marcus had found a way to stand on both sides.
