Then again.
Then she turned it off.
“Where is Liam?”
He arrived fourteen minutes later.
When Avery showed him the video, something broke behind his eyes.
“He went with them because he thought I told him to.”
Avery’s voice was ice.
“He doesn’t even know you.”
“I know.”
“And they used your face because you’re his father.”
“I know.”
“I told you never to look for us again.”
Liam nodded.
He didn’t defend himself.
“Tell me what you need.”
Avery pushed the ransom note across the table.
His face drained of color.
“Conrad.”
“Your godfather.”
Liam stared at the note.
“I called him Uncle Conrad until I was twenty-six.”
“Then you should know how he thinks.”
Liam slowly sat down.
“He won’t meet you personally.”
“Obviously.”
“He’ll use one of Sterling’s abandoned properties.”
“Which one?”
“There are twenty-seven.”
Julian placed Arthur’s files across the table.
“Only four have underground access, private power and no active security contracts.”
Liam looked at him.
“Three.”
Julian frowned.
“The Hudson Biotech campus lost underground power in 2022.”
“Publicly.”
Liam pointed at the map.
“My father kept a private generator there.”
Avery stared.
“Why?”
“Because Arthur built a panic room under the research wing after 9/11.”
Silence.
Julian began typing.
Then Liam said something unexpected.
“Conrad doesn’t need Avery’s signature.”
Both of them looked at him.
“What?”
“He needs mine too.”
Liam explained.
Arthur’s trust had been designed with two layers.
Leo owned the beneficial interest.
But until Leo turned twenty-five, the controlling voting block could only be permanently transferred with authorization from his legal guardian and the current Sterling family trustee.
Liam.
Avery felt the trap become visible.
“So that’s why they haven’t killed you.”
“Yes.”
Julian looked between them.
“Conrad needs both parents.”
Liam gave a humorless laugh.
“First useful thing I’ve done for my son.”
Avery’s eyes hardened.
“Don’t.”
He stopped.
“Don’t turn this into redemption.”
“I’m not.”
“You don’t get redemption because you’re useful once.”
“I know.”
For the first time, Avery believed he meant it.
At 11:42 p.m., Avery entered the abandoned Hudson Biotech campus carrying the transfer documents.
Alone.
At least, that was what Conrad believed.
A microphone smaller than a grain of rice was embedded in her earring.
Julian tracked her from an unmarked vehicle two blocks away.
Federal tactical teams waited outside the perimeter.
Liam had been ordered to remain away.
He didn’t.
Avery descended into the underground research wing.
Emergency lights flickered.
At the end of a corridor stood Conrad Vale.
Elegant.
Calm.
Silver hair perfectly combed.
Leo sat behind him in a glass conference room with a security guard.
He was frightened.
But alive.
“Avery.”
Conrad smiled.
“I always wondered whether you’d inherit Arthur’s stubbornness.”
“Let him go.”
“Sign.”
“You killed Arthur.”
Conrad’s smile faded slightly.
“You’ve been speaking with Victoria.”
“She’s more talkative without her lawyers.”
“Victoria is a frightened old woman.”
“Who helped you.”