Chapter 7 - The House Beneath the Lake
Preston’s information led investigators to a lake house owned through one of Beatrice’s shell companies.
The property appeared empty, but a hidden room had been built beneath the garage. Inside were servers, signed agreements, photographs, patient lists, and recordings of meetings involving Conrad Sloane.
Beatrice had kept evidence against every person in the operation.
She believed fear was more reliable than loyalty.
The files documented at least eleven suspicious medical transfers over seven years. Not every patient had died, and investigators could not immediately prove that deliberate harm had occurred in every case. However, identities had been changed, consent documents had been forged, and wealthy recipients had paid millions for illegal access.
The records also contained proof that Beatrice had ordered the attack on Ethan.
Dale Mercer was arrested at a motel near the Oklahoma border.
At first, he denied everything.
When investigators showed him Beatrice’s recordings, he asked for an attorney and began negotiating.
He admitted damaging Ethan’s car at the gala. After that attempt failed, Preston contacted him through an encrypted application and provided Ethan’s route.
Preston insisted he had only told Mercer to frighten Ethan.
Mercer claimed Beatrice later ordered the collision directly.
The truck driver had been another Sloane employee.
He was captured two days later.
Conrad Sloane was arrested aboard his private aircraft while attempting to leave the country. His attorneys claimed he believed every transplant arrangement was legal.
The recordings proved otherwise.
From his hospital room, Ethan watched the news coverage.
Reporters gathered outside Vale Meridian headquarters. Employees demanded answers. The company’s stock price collapsed. Board members resigned.
Ethan felt no satisfaction.
Thousands of employees had done nothing wrong. Their families depended on the company. Beatrice’s crimes threatened all of them.
Hayes visited him one evening.
“You’re worried about the company,” the ranger said.
“I’m worried about the people.”
“Your mother used that excuse too.”
“She used them as protection. I don’t want them punished for her choices.”
Ethan asked the board to appoint an independent emergency manager. He voluntarily released all company records to investigators and gave up his family’s voting control during the inquiry.
Preston’s attorney requested a meeting.
Ethan refused at first.
Then a handwritten letter arrived.
I know I do not deserve your forgiveness. I am not asking for it. But there are things about Father’s death you need to know.
Ethan read the sentence repeatedly.
Their father’s plane accident had occurred fifteen years earlier. Investigators blamed mechanical failure.
Hayes arranged a monitored meeting at the hospital.
Preston entered wearing jail clothing and restraints. Without his tailored suits, he looked smaller.
“What do you know about Father?” Ethan asked.
Preston sat across from the bed.
“He discovered the hospital accounts.”
Ethan said nothing.
“He planned to remove Mother from the company,” Preston continued. “The night before his flight, I heard them arguing.”
“Are you saying she caused the accident?”
“I don’t know. But after he died, she destroyed documents from his office.”
“Why didn’t you tell anyone?”
“I was twenty-one. She told me the company would collapse and we would lose everything.”
“You believed her?”
“I wanted to.”
Ethan studied his brother.
“You always had a choice.”
Preston lowered his eyes.
“I know.”
“Why did you help her target me?”
“She said Sloane would destroy us unless we solved his problem. She said you were already working with investigators and would send us all to prison.”
“You could have come to me.”
“I spent my whole life competing with you.”
“For what?”
Preston looked up.
“For her love.”
The answer left a painful silence between them.
May you like
Ethan finally understood that Preston had not truly won their mother’s love.
He had simply become more useful to her.
