Chapter 6 - The Incapacity Plan

They found Evan Pierce in the medical suite.

He was not alone.

A private physician stood beside him.

Dr. Harold Wynn.

Sebastian knew him.

Family doctor.

For fifteen years.

Marcus disarmed Pierce.

No fight.

No drama.

Just one frightened man realizing the plan was collapsing.

Sebastian picked up the admission form.

Patient:

SEBASTIAN VALE.

Condition:

Acute neurological event.

Recommended:

Immediate sedation.

Observation.

Restricted communication.

Sebastian looked at Wynn.

"You were going to sedate me."

The doctor shook his head.

"I was told you had been having episodes."

"By who?"

"Mr. Vale."

Nicholas laughed bitterly.

"Which one?"

Wynn went pale.

Sebastian stepped closer.

"My father."

The doctor nodded.

"He called me."

"With what voice?"

Wynn froze.

Sebastian understood.

"My voice."

The doctor stared.

"I thought it was you."

Silence.

Another stolen order.

Nicholas looked at Sebastian.

"That is the first model."

"The original."

"Anthony has been using it for months."

Sebastian asked:

"How many people?"

Nicholas shook his head.

"We don't know."

Marcus searched Pierce.

Found two phones.

One burner.

One normal.

The burner had a live call.

Muted.

Sebastian looked at it.

"Unmute."

Marcus did.

A man's voice came through.

Older.

Calm.

"Is it done?"

Sebastian froze.

He knew that voice.

His father.

Anthony Vale.

Alive.

Sebastian took the phone.

"No."

Silence.

Then Anthony laughed softly.

"Sebastian."

"You sound surprised."

"I am impressed."

Sebastian's jaw tightened.

"Where are you?"

"Close."

"How close?"

"Close enough to hear your engagement band."

Daphne looked toward the ballroom.

Nicholas whispered:

"He's on the property."

Marcus immediately moved security.

Anthony continued:

"You always were difficult."

Sebastian said:

"You faked your death."

"Necessary."

"You built a voice archive."

"Useful."

"You tried to have me sedated."

"Temporary."

Sebastian laughed once.

"Two hundred million dollars is temporary?"

Anthony paused.

"So Nicholas told you."

Nicholas leaned toward the phone.

"Hello, Dad."

Anthony's voice changed.

"You disappoint me."

Nicholas replied:

"That's mutual."

Sebastian asked:

"Why use my voice against the staff?"

Anthony answered:

"I didn't."

Tessa stared.

Sebastian looked at Nicholas.

Nicholas lowered his eyes.

Anthony continued:

"That was your brother improvising."

Sebastian said:

"He learned from you."

Silence.

Then Anthony replied:

"Perhaps."

Sebastian's expression hardened.

"Where is Evelyn Bell?"

Daphne stepped closer.

Anthony laughed.

"Ask her daughter."

Daphne shook her head.

"I don't know."

Anthony heard her.

"My dear Daphne."

She went white.

He continued:

"Your mother always did prefer other people's children."

Charles said:

"Enough."

Anthony laughed again.

"Charles."

Sebastian looked at Daphne.

"What did he mean?"

She whispered:

"I don't know."

Nicholas looked at her.

Then at Charles.

"You do."

Charles closed his eyes.

Sebastian stared.

"What?"

Nicholas answered:

"Evelyn raised me for a year."

Silence.

Daphne looked at him.

"When?"

"After I disappeared."

Her face changed.

"My mother."

Nicholas nodded.

"She hid me."

"Why?"

"Because Anthony was trying to find me."

Sebastian frowned.

"Why was Dad looking for you?"

Nicholas looked ashamed.

"Because I stole something."

"What?"

Nicholas took a small metal key from his pocket.

"His archive."

Sebastian stared.

"Where?"

"Not digital."

"The originals."

"Tapes."

"Disks."

"Documents."

"Where?"

Nicholas looked at Tessa.

Then said:

"In the staff chapel."

Tessa blinked.

"The chapel?"

Nicholas nodded.

"Behind the old memorial wall."

Sebastian looked at Marcus.

"Secure it."

Anthony's voice came through the phone.

Too calm.

"Don't."

Sebastian smiled without warmth.

"Now I definitely will."

The line went dead.

Marcus's radio exploded with voices.

Movement near the chapel.

Security running.

Then one message.

"Boss."

"We have a woman here."

Daphne froze.

Marcus asked:

"Who?"

May you like

[COMPLETED] “GET YOUR HANDS OFF MY DRESS! YOU’RE NOTHING BUT AN OLD SEAM...

[COMPLETED] At the Mafia Boss's Engagement Party, I Served His Hungry So...

[COMPLETED] The Mafia Boss’s Fiancée Tried to Dismiss His Father’s Loyal...

The guard answered:

"She says her name is Evelyn Bell."