Chapter 11 - The Secret on the Sixty-First Floor
Vincent Morgan had spent fifteen years believing his brother was merely corrupt.
Now we had reason to believe Richard had once tried to kill him.
The discovery changed everything.
Detective Ramirez obtained the necessary authorization to search the building.
Vincent cooperated.
I accompanied the investigators because Rachel believed I might recognize my father's markings.
When the elevator opened on the sixty-first floor, I stepped into a penthouse that looked more like a museum than a home.
Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked Chicago.
The furniture was beautiful.
The artwork expensive.
But the apartment felt strangely empty.
Vincent stood near the fireplace.
"Your father helped design this floor," he said quietly.
I stared.
"What?"
"He insisted the electrical access points remain easy to inspect."
My chest tightened.
"That sounds like him."
We followed investigators toward a utility room.
Behind a removable metal panel, they found a narrow compartment.
Inside was a waterproof container.
And inside that container were documents.
Original contracts.
Financial records.
A handwritten ledger.
And a small digital recorder.
One investigator carefully secured everything.
Then Ramirez turned toward Vincent.
"Mr. Morgan, you'll need to come with us while we review this."
He nodded.
"Of course."
For the first time, I saw something resembling fear in his eyes.
Not fear of losing money.
Fear of learning the truth.
Later, at police headquarters, investigators played a copy of the recovered recording.
My father's voice filled the room.
"Vincent, if you're hearing this, Richard has gone further than either of us imagined."
I covered my mouth.
His voice was so familiar.
So warm.
So alive.
The recording continued.
"Samuel Price has been using company money to cover medical fraud. Richard knows. He's helping."
A pause.
"There's something else."
I leaned forward.
"Three months ago, someone tampered with the electrical system in the executive elevator."
Vincent went pale.
I remembered the story he'd told me.
An electrical fire.
My father saving his life.
Then Dad spoke again.
"The fire wasn't an accident. Someone wanted Vincent dead."
Silence filled the room.
My father continued.
"I found an order authorizing the maintenance change."
A paper rustled.
"It was signed by Richard Morgan."
Vincent closed his eyes.
Then came the final sentence.
"If I disappear, please don't let Samuel reach Helen or Emma."
The recording ended.
Nobody spoke.
Vincent slowly covered his face.
For years, I'd believed he was untouchable.
A powerful billionaire who never showed weakness.
But sitting beside me, he looked like a man discovering the full cost of trusting the wrong people.
"I'm sorry, Thomas," he whispered.
His voice broke.
"I'm so sorry."
I looked away.
I couldn't forgive him.
Not yet.
Maybe never completely.
But I understood something important.
His power hadn't protected him from betrayal.
It had simply made the betrayal harder to see.
Then Detective Ramirez's phone rang.
She answered.
Listened.
And suddenly stood.
"What happened?" Rebecca asked.
Ramirez looked toward us.
"Samuel Price has disappeared."
My stomach tightened.
"Where?"
"His office is empty. His vehicles are gone."
I stood.
"What about Richard?"
Ramirez's expression darkened.
"He disappeared too."
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Then she added something that made my blood run cold.
"Before leaving, someone accessed Helen Carter's hospital room assignment."
