Chapter 9 - VANESSA’S DEAL
The room at the Union League was wired before Vanessa arrived.
Judge Pryce did not know that.
Neither did Richard’s attorney.
Harrison listened from a van parked across the street as Vanessa demanded money, immunity, and revenge.
“I want Cole destroyed,” she said. “He’ll come after me forever.”
Richard’s attorney lowered his voice. “You were supposed to leave the country.”
“I was supposed to be protected. Instead, someone tried to shoot me at the warehouse.”
Judge Pryce leaned forward. “Keep your voice down.”
Vanessa laughed. “You took Harrington money for years. Don’t act holy now.”
That sentence ended the judge’s career.
Morales gave the signal.
Federal agents entered from the kitchen and main hallway. Vanessa tried to run, but Harrison was waiting outside the service door.
She stopped when she saw him.
For one moment, neither spoke.
Then Vanessa’s face twisted. “She ruined everything.”
“Khloe was your victim.”
“She had everything. The family name. The trust. The baby. Richard said he was trapped with her.”
“And you believed a married man who hid money from both of you.”
Vanessa’s eyes filled with furious tears. “I loved him.”
“No. You loved winning.”
Agents handcuffed her.
As they led her away, she leaned close to Harrison.
“Richard has someone inside the NICU.”
Harrison ran.
He called the hospital while racing through red lights. Security locked the neonatal floor, but a respiratory therapist had already disappeared.
When Harrison reached the NICU, alarms were sounding.
The baby’s incubator was empty.
Khloe, still weak from surgery, had torn out her IV and staggered into the hall.
“Where is she?” she screamed. “Where is my daughter?”
Harrison caught her before she fell.
“We’ll find her.”
“Don’t say that like a lawyer!” Khloe struck his chest with both hands. “Find my baby!”
Security footage showed a masked hospital worker carrying the child inside a transport incubator toward the ambulance bay.
A vehicle left three minutes earlier using stolen emergency credentials.
Morales traced the plate to a private medical company controlled by Harrington Commercial.
The vehicle was headed west.
Toward the Harrington family estate.
Harrison helped Khloe back into bed, but she held onto his sleeve.
“Bring her home.”
“I will.”
He turned to leave.
Khloe spoke again.
“Harry.”
He looked back.
“If Richard is there…”
May you like
Her voice broke, but her eyes did not.
“Don’t save him from what he deserves.”
