Chapter 6 - THE PERSON INSIDE THE HELICOPTERThe helicopter descended over a field.
Daniel pulled Lily behind an overturned tractor.
Marcus aimed.
The side door opened.
Alexander Kane stepped out.
Hands raised.
Daniel stared.
“You have got to be kidding me.”
Alexander shouted over the blades.
“If I wanted you dead, I wouldn’t have landed!”
Marcus didn’t lower his weapon.
Alexander threw a satellite phone onto the ground.
“I tracked the attack on the cabin.”
Grace emerged.
“How did you know we were here?”
“Because I know you.”
“That’s not reassuring.”
Alexander’s expression tightened.
“I knew where your father brought you when your mother was sick.”
Grace stopped.
“I never told you about that.”
“Your father did.”
Marcus retrieved the phone.
Alexander continued.
“Crowe didn't escape.”
“What?”
“He was taken.”
Daniel’s suspicion sharpened.
“By whom?”
Alexander looked at Grace.
“Your chief financial officer.”
Grace stared.
“Sophia?”
Sophia Bennett had been Grace’s closest employee for eleven years.
She organized everything.
Flights.
Meetings.
Security schedules.
Grace whispered, “No.”
Alexander handed Marcus evidence.
Photos.
Encrypted messages.
A transfer order from Sophia to Helix.
The replacement limousine.
Pike.
Everything.
Daniel’s stomach sank.
“She knew every part of Grace's schedule.”
Marcus nodded.
“She also would've known about our security response.”
Grace’s face went empty.
“Why?”
Alexander answered.
“Because Sterling Global isn't worth a hundred billion dollars to her.”
He paused.
“It’s worth closer to three hundred billion if the company is broken apart.”
Meridian wanted Grace removed so the board could approve a forced restructuring.
Richard had apparently discovered part of the plan.
Crowe discovered more.
Both became liabilities.
“But why kidnap Grace?” Daniel asked. “Why not kill her?”
Alexander looked grim.
“Because they needed her authorization keys.”
The keys could unlock encrypted ownership records controlling several international subsidiaries.
Without them, Meridian could steal billions.
With Grace dead, legal proceedings might freeze everything for years.
Alive and terrified, she was more valuable.
Daniel looked at Grace.
“So they weren’t trying to murder you.”
“Not yet.”
Sophia called twenty minutes later.
Grace answered.
Her former assistant sounded calm.
“I'm glad you're alive.”
Grace nearly laughed.
“Richard isn't.”
“Richard made mistakes.”
“You poisoned him.”
“I didn’t.”
“Then who did?”
Silence.
Sophia changed the subject.
“I have William.”
Grace looked at Marcus.
“What do you want?”
“The keys.”
“No.”
Sophia sighed.
“You really are your father’s daughter.”
“And you’re a traitor.”
“Your father built a system that allowed one family to control infrastructure affecting millions of people.”
“So you tried to kidnap me for moral reasons?”
“No.”
Sophia laughed softly.
“I’m not going to insult you with that lie. I did it because power is wasted on people who pretend they don't enjoy having it.”
Grace became silent.
Sophia continued.
“Bring the keys to Chicago tomorrow.”
“Where?”
“You'll receive instructions.”
“If William is hurt—”
“He's already hurt.”
Grace closed her eyes.
“Come alone.”
The call ended.
Daniel immediately said, “No.”
Grace looked at him.
“I don’t have a choice.”
“You absolutely do.”
“She’ll kill Crowe.”
“She might kill him anyway.”
Grace’s jaw tightened.
“He knew my father.”
“And Lily needs you alive.”
Grace stared.
Daniel realized what he had said.
Not I need you.
Lily.
Safer.
Grace heard the difference anyway.
That night they stayed at an abandoned hunting lodge Marcus knew.
Lily slept between piles of blankets.
Alexander stayed near the door.
Daniel sat beside the fireplace.
Grace approached.
“About the river.”
Daniel looked up.
“The hypothermia or the kiss?”
Her mouth twitched.
“The kiss.”
“You don't owe me an explanation.”
“I’m engaged.”
“You’re also being hunted by your assistant and possibly half your board. Relationship counseling can wait.”
Grace laughed.
Then sat beside him.
“My engagement to Alexander was practical before it was romantic.”
Daniel looked toward Alexander.
“You might want to say that quieter.”
“He knows.”
Grace admitted that she had wanted stability.
Alexander fit her world.
Same parties.
Same private planes.
Same social expectations.
Daniel asked, “Do you love him?”
Grace didn’t answer.
That was answer enough.
She looked toward sleeping Lily.
“Rebecca must have been wonderful.”
“She was.”
“You still love her.”
“Yeah.”
“Does that make you feel guilty when you think about someone else?”
Daniel slowly looked at Grace.
“All the time.”
Their faces were inches apart.
Grace whispered, “Good.”
“Good?”
“I'd worry if it didn’t.”
Daniel smiled.
Then Alexander’s voice came from across the room.
“This is extremely uncomfortable.”
Grace jumped.
Daniel groaned.
Alexander stared at the ceiling.
“For all of us.”
Grace stood.
“Were you listening?”
“It’s one room, Evelyn.”
Daniel almost laughed.
Alexander looked at him.
Then surprisingly smiled too.
“This is going to sound insane, but if we survive tomorrow, I’m ending the engagement.”
Grace blinked.
“You are?”
“You kissed him.”
Daniel coughed.
Grace’s face reddened.
Alexander continued.
“And when you thought you were going to die, you called him. Not me.”
Grace stared at him.
Alexander’s expression softened.
“I wanted to be the person you needed.”
He looked toward Daniel.
“I’m clearly not.”
For the first time, Daniel respected him.
Then Marcus entered carrying the recovered hard drive.
“I restored part of Robert Sterling’s video.”
Everyone gathered around.
Grace’s father appeared.
His final warning played.
Meridian isn't controlled by Richard. It isn't controlled by William. The person behind it is someone Evelyn may never suspect because that person has spent years convincing her they are harmless.
The screen glitched.
Then returned.
Robert spoke one last name.
Everyone froze.
Grace whispered, “That’s impossible.”
Daniel looked at her.
Because Robert Sterling hadn't named Sophia Bennett.
He had named Grace's mother.
May you like
Victoria Sterling.
The woman officially dead for nine years.
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