Chapter 22 - Chloe’s Testimony
Sloane’s private aircraft requested departure clearance from a small airport near the Canadian border.
Investigators stopped the plane.
Sloane was not aboard.
The passenger was Adam Pierce, carrying an empty drive and a passport in Sloane’s name.
Sloane had expected the authorities to track the flight.
Chloe studied his past travel records and noticed a pattern.
Whenever Sloane wanted privacy, he avoided airports and hotels. He used properties connected to clients who owed him favors.
One property remained outside the investigation.
Elaine’s smaller home.
Police found no sign of forced entry.
Elaine was sitting calmly in the living room.
Sloane stood near the fireplace with Charles’s recovered audio files in his hand.
He had come to destroy the final recording.
Elaine had invited him inside after promising she could persuade Chloe to withdraw her testimony.
Instead, she had activated the silent alarm Leah installed after Ryan’s warning.
Sloane was arrested before he reached the back door.
At the preliminary hearing, his attorneys claimed every witness had acted to protect themselves.
Then Chloe took the stand.
She admitted she had known Ryan was hiding company losses before Leah’s wedding.
She admitted she had remained silent.
She admitted fear had delayed her decision.
Sloane’s attorney smiled.
“So your testimony cannot be trusted.”
Chloe looked toward the jury.
“My silence should not be trusted. That is why I brought records, recordings, access logs, and original documents.”
She turned back to the attorney.
“I am not asking anyone to believe me because I am a Hartwell.”
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Her gaze moved briefly toward Leah.
“I am asking them to examine the truth because the Hartwell name hid it for too long.”
