Chapter 7 - THE DEATH IN GENEVA
The Swiss medical report said heart failure.
Erik said poison.
Not cinematic poison.
Not something detectable immediately.
A medication interaction.
Something designed to trigger an event in a man with a known cardiac condition.
My hands went cold.
“Who knew about his medication?”
“Family.”
“Doctors.”
“Senior staff.”
“And Bennett.”
I stared.
“How?”
“Henry’s people obtained medical information through Michael Walker.”
My stomach turned.
“Michael was already dead.”
“His files survived him.”
“Who had them?”
Erik looked at me.
“Sophia.”
The room went silent.
“No.”
“She was twenty-two.”
“That doesn’t mean she killed him.”
“I didn’t say she did.”
“Then what are you saying?”
“She had access.”
I stood.
“I need proof.”
“Good.”
His answer surprised me.
“Good?”
“You sound like Jonathan.”
I almost smiled.
“He never accepted convenient conclusions either.”
Erik opened the drive.
Emails.
Payments.
Travel records.
One email stood out.
From Henry Bennett to an unidentified account.
Geneva must be resolved before Claire receives the option.
My breath stopped.
Date:
One day before my father died.
I stared.
“Resolved.”
“Yes.”
“Can you identify the recipient?”
“Not yet.”
“Then we don’t know who acted.”
“No.”
I hated uncertainty.
But uncertainty was better than inventing truth.
Then Rebecca called.
“Claire.”
Her tone was wrong.
“What?”
“Ethan is in London.”
My stomach dropped.
“Why?”
“He landed an hour ago.”
“Where’s Lily?”
“With your mother.”
“Security?”
“Yes.”
“Then why are you worried?”
“Because Ethan didn’t come alone.”
“Who?”
She hesitated.
“Sophia.”
My blood went cold.
They had crossed the Atlantic together.
Twelve hours after I learned about my father’s possible murder.
Coincidence had officially died.
I flew back immediately.
Ethan was waiting outside Ashbourne’s headquarters when my car arrived.
Sophia stood ten feet away.
I got out.
My cheek still showed the faint yellowing remains of his hand.
Ethan saw it.
For the first time, shame crossed his face.
“Claire.”
“Do not touch me.”
He stopped.
Sophia looked between us.
“I came to discuss NordTech.”
I laughed.
“Of course you did.”
Ethan stepped forward.
“I came for Lily.”
“Through lawyers.”
“She’s my daughter.”
“Yes.”
“And you took her out of the country.”
“After you hit me.”
His face tightened.
“I know.”
That answer surprised me.
Not denial.
Not minimization.
“I was wrong.”
I looked at him.
“You were.”
“I lost control.”
“You chose violence.”
“Yes.”
Sophia’s expression changed.
She had probably never heard him admit that.
Ethan continued.
“I’m not asking you to forgive me.”
“Good.”
“But there are things you need to know.”
“Everyone says that lately.”
He looked at Sophia.
Then back at me.
“Sophia didn’t come because of me.”
My stomach tightened.
“Then why?”
Sophia spoke.
“Because Bennett International is withdrawing from NordTech.”
I stared.
“What?”
“We’re pulling our bid.”
That made no sense.
They were ahead.
They had our valuation.
They had everything.
“Why?”
Her face went pale.
“Because my father is missing.”
Silence.
“Henry?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Last night.”
“From where?”
“New York.”
Ethan looked at me.
“And before he disappeared, he sent me something.”
He handed me a phone.
One video.
Henry Bennett.
Old.
Terrified.
He looked directly into the camera.
“Claire Quinn must not win NordTech.”
My stomach tightened.
Then he said,
“Because if she does, she’ll discover who really killed Jonathan Quinn.”
The video ended.
Sophia swallowed.
“My father didn’t send that to stop you.”
I looked at her.
May you like
“Then why?”
“Because someone was forcing him to say it.”
