Chapter 13 - Simon Graves Talks
Simon Graves carried three passports.
Two were false.
He also carried an encrypted drive.
And seven hundred thousand dollars in bearer bonds.
His lawyers initially called it an unfortunate misunderstanding.
Federal prosecutors disagreed.
Simon began negotiating before sunrise.
By noon, he was talking.
He confirmed Account 1816.
He confirmed the forged medical records.
He confirmed the false lineage challenge.
Then investigators asked about Eleanor Vale.
Simon’s answer came carefully.
“Adrian never said he wanted her dead.”
Charlotte listened behind one-way glass.
Simon continued.
“He wanted her sedated.”
“Why?”
“To delay the disclosure.”
Eleanor planned to meet an outside law firm the morning after she died.
She intended to transfer evidence.
Adrian needed twenty-four hours.
Malcolm Price supplied medication designed to make Eleanor confused and sleepy.
The plan was to create a medical episode.
Then Simon would argue Eleanor lacked capacity to sign legal documents.
Charlotte closed her eyes.
They had planned to do to Eleanor exactly what they later tried to do to her.
Investigators asked.
“Who administered the medication?”
Simon hesitated.
“Adrian.”
Charlotte’s eyes opened.
Simon continued.
“Price prepared it.”
“Adrian put it in Eleanor’s drink.”
“But something went wrong.”
The dosage interacted with another prescription.
Eleanor collapsed.
Adrian panicked.
Melissa wanted an ambulance.
Adrian stopped her.
He called Price instead.
“What did Price inject?”
Simon looked away.
“I don’t know.”
“Did Eleanor die because of the medication?”
“I don’t know.”
“Why did you pay Price two hundred fifty thousand dollars afterward?”
Simon swallowed.
“For silence.”
Charlotte turned away from the glass.
Daniel followed her.
She stood in the corridor trying to breathe.
Her mother had not suffered a random medical crisis.
She had been drugged to prevent her from exposing theft.
Maybe Adrian did not intend to kill her.
It no longer mattered.
His decision started the chain.
His delay continued it.
His cover-up buried it.
Daniel touched Charlotte’s shoulder.
She did not cry.
Not yet.
She said.
“I want Adrian arrested.”
“He will be.”
“I want every hotel account opened.”
“They will be.”
“I want my mother’s name cleared publicly.”
Daniel nodded.
Charlotte finally looked at him.
“And I want every employee who was fired for asking questions contacted.”
Daniel understood.
This was no longer only about punishment.
Charlotte wanted the damage repaired.
Then an agent ran past them.
Daniel stopped him.
“What happened?”
“Mercer left the gala before the arrest order came through.”
Charlotte’s face hardened.
“Where would he go?”
The agent shook his head.
“We don’t know.”
Charlotte did.
May you like
She looked toward the elevator.
“Floor 18.”
