Chapter 5 - The Dead Man Who Built the First Voice

Sebastian stared at Charles.

"My father died in front of me."

"No."

"You were at the hospital."

"Yes."

"I saw him."

"You saw a man sedated and intubated."

Sebastian's face hardened.

"Then?"

Charles looked ashamed.

"He survived."

"How?"

"The cardiac arrest was staged."

"Why?"

"Because federal investigators were closing in."

Marcus whispered:

"On the blackmail archive."

Charles nodded.

Sebastian looked toward the laptop.

His father's voice collection.

His father's methods.

Now reborn as synthetic speech.

"Where did he go?"

"Switzerland first."

"Then?"

"Belgrade."

"Then Dubai."

"Now?"

Charles hesitated.

Daphne whispered:

"Chicago."

Sebastian turned.

She cried.

"I found out last month."

"Of course you did."

Her face broke.

Sebastian continued:

"Is he in this house?"

"No."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

Marcus's radio crackled.

"Boss."

He answered.

"Go."

A guard's voice:

"West gate SUV is empty."

Sebastian looked at the screen.

The vehicle had been abandoned.

Then another guard spoke.

"We found a man in the greenhouse."

"Who?"

Pause.

"Mr. Nicholas Vale."

Sebastian went still.

"Bring him in."

Five minutes later, Nicholas entered.

Alive.

No restraints.

He looked at Sebastian.

"Brother."

Sebastian crossed the room.

Then punched him.

Nicholas hit the wall.

Marcus stepped forward.

Sebastian raised a hand.

Nicholas wiped blood from his lip.

"Fair."

Sebastian stared.

"You used my voice to punish staff."

"Yes."

"Why?"

"To make Daphne panic."

Daphne stepped forward.

"You bruised Tessa to make me panic?"

Nicholas looked at Tessa.

"No."

Tessa stared.

Nicholas continued:

"I ordered confinement."

"Evan escalated it."

Sebastian's face hardened.

"You still gave the order."

"Yes."

Tessa whispered:

"Why me?"

Nicholas looked ashamed.

"Because you found the drive."

"You could have asked for it."

"Yes."

"Instead you made everyone think Sebastian wanted me punished."

Nicholas nodded.

"I was wrong."

No excuse.

Sebastian asked:

"Where is Evan?"

"With my father."

Silence.

"Anthony."

Nicholas nodded.

"He recruited Pierce months ago."

"For what?"

"To maintain access."

Sebastian looked at Charles.

"Why is my father here?"

Nicholas answered:

"Money."

"How much?"

"Not thirty million."

Nicholas looked at the laptop.

"Two hundred million."

Silence.

Daphne stared.

Nicholas continued:

"The Vale Continuity Trust."

Sebastian frowned.

He knew the name.

A dormant emergency fund created after his father died.

Only accessible during a verified incapacity event.

Sebastian asked:

"What does my voice have to do with it?"

Nicholas said:

"Everything."

Charles sat down slowly.

Sebastian stared.

Nicholas continued:

"The trust opens if three conditions are met."

"Board certification."

"Medical incapacity."

"And your voice authorization."

Marcus whispered:

"Anthony plans to fake Sebastian's incapacity."

Nicholas nodded.

"Tonight."

Daphne went pale.

"During the engagement dinner."

"Yes."

Sebastian asked:

"Why tonight?"

Nicholas looked at her.

"Because after the engagement announcement, Charles was supposed to introduce restructuring documents."

Charles closed his eyes.

Sebastian turned.

"You too."

Charles whispered:

"I didn't know Anthony was behind it."

"But you had documents."

"Yes."

"What did they do?"

"Move temporary control to a board."

"Who sits on it?"

Charles said nothing.

Nicholas answered:

"Evelyn."

Silence.

Daphne stared.

"My mother."

Nicholas nodded.

"And me."

Sebastian laughed.

"You."

"Yes."

"Anyone else?"

Nicholas looked at Charles.

"Charles."

Sebastian stared at all three.

His fiancée's father.

His brother.

Her supposedly dead mother.

A board built around his disappearance.

Daphne whispered:

"I didn't know this."

Nicholas looked at her.

"You knew part."

"Not the trust."

"True."

Sebastian turned to Charles.

"What happens if I'm declared incapacitated?"

Charles answered:

"The board controls the companies for ninety days."

"And the trust?"

Nicholas said:

"Can be liquidated."

Sebastian understood.

Two hundred million could move before he returned.

If he returned.

Then Marcus's radio crackled again.

"Boss."

"What?"

"We found Pierce."

"Where?"

"Private medical suite."

Sebastian frowned.

The mansion had one.

Used for injuries.

Emergency care.

The guard continued:

"He has medical equipment."

"Sedatives."

"And a signed admission order."

Sebastian's face went cold.

"Whose name?"

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The answer came.

"Sebastian Vale."