Richard Vale’s Last Contract
Chapter 12 - Richard Vale’s Last Contract
Federal agents arrested Richard at Crosswell headquarters.
His office contained fake medical records, demolition contracts, and the original agreement authorizing Green Hollow to confine Evelyn.
Richard blamed Harrison Cross.
He claimed he inherited a system too large to stop.
Madeline read the contracts.
Richard expanded the theft after Harrison died.
He opened Lily’s fake foundation.
He ordered Anne’s medication changed.
He paid Victor to find the child.
Inheritance explained nothing.
Choice explained the rest.
Victor accepted a plea agreement.
He admitted bringing Lily to the diner and trying to force her signature.
He also revealed Richard’s final contract.
If Richard lost Crosswell, the company’s most profitable warehouses would automatically transfer to a private investor.
The investor was Madeline Cross.
Her electronic signature appeared on the agreement.
Madeline denied signing.
The digital certificate came from her office.
Claire asked the question no one else wanted to.
“Who had access?”
Madeline’s chief assistant, Daniel Price.
He had worked beside her for fifteen years.
Daniel confessed that Richard paid his son’s medical bills in exchange for copying Madeline’s credentials.
He believed the contract was harmless.
It would have transferred billions.
Madeline chose not to hide the betrayal.
She disclosed it publicly and paid Daniel’s son’s remaining medical costs without protecting Daniel from prosecution.
May you like
“Compassion is not immunity,” she said.
Crosswell’s future would no longer depend on private favors.
