Chapter 42 - the backup beneath the stage
Nora, Grace and federal investigators reached the production warehouse before Holloway could remove the server.
The judge claimed he was collecting personal material recorded during the anniversary gala.
He carried no court order and could not explain why he arrived after midnight.
Investigators found the server inside his vehicle.
Holloway requested an attorney.
The production manager restored the gala archive while Nora waited beside the same white stage panels used during the celebration. She remembered Malcolm raising a glass to fifty years of partnership while Celeste watched from the crowd wearing Nora’s missing bracelet.
At the time, Nora had believed the betrayal began with an affair.
Now she understood the affair had been merely the most visible part.
The restored server contained a temporary copy of Elias’s drive. During the gala, someone had connected the drive to the production system for ninety seconds.
Elias admitted he had entered the ballroom disguised as a technician.
“I wanted to place the evidence in Nora’s presentation,” he said.
“Why did you stop?” Grace asked.
“Malcolm saw me.”
Malcolm confirmed it.
He had followed Elias backstage and begged him not to expose the scandal in front of employees, investors and their children. Elias agreed to delay the revelation after Malcolm promised Nora would be told privately.
Malcolm never kept the promise.
The backup included the first-transfer file.
In 1998, Gideon had instructed a bank officer to move Katherine’s royalties into a private company. The transfer bore Gideon’s voice authorization and Judge Holloway’s legal approval.
Later records proved Gideon used the money to purchase shares secretly, eventually turning himself into the company’s hidden power broker.
Nora listened to the recording once.
Then she gave it to investigators.
By morning, Holloway had been suspended, Gideon’s accounts were frozen and warrants had been requested for several associated properties.
Gideon remained missing.
At nine fifteen, Nora received a video call from him.
He stood inside the Vale family’s original factory.
Behind him were shelves containing decades of paper records.
“You have the recording,” Gideon said.
“I do.”
“And I have everything needed to prove your mother never owned the patents.”
May you like
He raised a lighter.
“Come alone, or your victory becomes an argument no one can settle.”
