Chapter 7 - The Midnight Warning
The clock in the safehouse hall struck 2:00 AM as rain continued to pattern softly against the windowpanes.
Maria sat at the kitchen counter, holding a ice pack against her bruised cheek while drinking warm tea.
Richard was pacing the hardwood floor, his satellite phone resting on the counter beside a stack of legal documents.
"I just spoke with my lead counsel in New York," Richard said, running a hand through his damp hair.
"Mother has already filed a missing person report with the Greenwich Police Department, claiming you kidnapped Leo."
Maria set her mug down, her hands shaking slightly.
"Will they believe her?" Maria asked anxiously.
"She has half the local city council in her pocket, Maria," Richard answered directly.
"But she doesn't control the federal authorities or the State Attorney General."
Suddenly, Richard's satellite phone vibrated violently across the granite countertop.
The caller ID displayed an untraceable encrypted number originating from Manhattan.
Richard pressed speakerphone, his body rigid with military discipline.
"Richard, you need to listen to me very carefully," a raspy female voice spoke through the speaker.
It wasn't Eleanor; it was Detective Sarah Jenkins, a trusted former military colleague now working for the FBI.
"Sarah? What's going on?" Richard asked urgently.
"Your mother's legal team just presented a signed warrant to freeze all your personal and corporate bank accounts," Sarah revealed.
"They claim you are mentally incapacitated due to severe combat trauma and unfit to manage Vance Enterprises."
Richard slammed his fist onto the counter, his charcoal suit jacket tight across his broad shoulders.
"She's trying to cut off my financial resources so I can't hire defense attorneys!" Richard growled.
"There's more, Richard," Detective Jenkins added, her tone growing dangerously solemn.
"Eleanor hired a team of private contractors out of Miami. They tracked your SUV's toll transponder twenty minutes ago."
May you like
Maria gasped, looking toward the dark front window as headlights suddenly illuminated the driveway trees.
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