Chapter 10 - The Confrontation
""The box isn't here,"" Marcus said, stepping deliberately between Arthur and the resuscitation table where the nurse was shielding the newborn child. ""You took it from my safe. I watched you on the hidden feed.""
Arthur chuckled, a dry, humorless sound. ""Don't play games with me, Marcus. Vanessa opened the false compartment. The ledger wasn't there. Your mother was clever, but she wasn't clever enough. She gave the primary decrypt key to you, didn't she?""
Marcus felt a chill run through him. The mahogany box had been a decoy. His mother had anticipated Arthur’s desperation months ago.
""I don't know what you're talking about,"" Marcus lied, maintaining steady eye contact.
""Then your son dies first,"" Arthur said without a flicker of remorse, raising the barrel toward the infant incubator.
""Arthur, no!""
A sharp voice rang out from the doorway. Vanessa stood there, her green dress rumpled, her face streaked with tears and mascara. She was clutching her oversized handbag to her chest, her breathing ragged.
""Put the gun down, Arthur!"" she screamed. ""You said nobody would die! You said we were just going to scare them into signing the estate transfer!""
""Shut up, Vanessa,"" Arthur barked without turning his head. ""You played your part. You pushed her, you opened the safe, and now you’re an accessory to attempted murder. If they survive, you spend thirty years in a federal penitentiary.""
""You tricked me!"" Vanessa shrieked, backing toward the hallway. ""You told me she was going to cut me out of the trust! You told me Elena knew about the embezzlement!""
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""I said, shut up!"" Arthur roared, turning his pistol toward Vanessa.
In that split second of distraction, Marcus lunged.
