Chapter 4 - The Legal Wall
The two men behind Preston didn't look like medical staff. They had the sharp, predatory look of corporate defense attorneys who spent their lives turning victims into liabilities.
"Mr. Ward," the first attorney said, stepping forward and opening a manila folder. "My name is Arthur Vance, representing Vale Logistics. We appreciate your assistance at the scene of the vehicular accident this evening. As a token of our appreciation for your... neighborly intervention, Mr. Vale has authorized a discretionary payment of ten thousand dollars, provided you sign this standard non-disclosure agreement regarding the incident."
He held out a sleek silver pen and a three-page document.
Caleb didn't look at the pen. He looked at Preston, who was standing near the window, his arms crossed over his chest, looking completely back in control.
"Ten thousand dollars," Caleb said, his voice flat. "That's about the cost of a replacement door assembly on an Armington Royale."
"It's more than you made in three months at the service bay, Caleb," Preston said from the window. "Take the money. Buy your kid some new shoes. And stay away from my wife's medical treatment. We're transferring her to a private facility in ten minutes."
"I'm not going anywhere, Preston," Olivia said from the bed. Her voice was shaking, but there was a distinct edge to it now. "I've already spoken with Dr. Reynolds. I am legally competent, and I am refusing the transfer."
Preston’s smile didn't fade, but his eyes turned into two slits of cold steel. He walked over to the side of the bed, leaning down until his face was inches from hers.
"Liv, don't be hysterical," he said, his voice dropping into a low, terrifyingly gentle purr. "The smoke must have confused you. Your father’s company is currently undergoing a secondary audit by the state insurance commission. If you start making wild allegations about our personal vehicles, it could look very bad for the family business. Your family's business."
The threat was clear. He wasn't just threatening her; he was threatening her father, the man who had founded the Winslow Children’s Hospital foundation and whose name was on half the buildings in the city.
Olivia looked at Caleb. Her eyes were wide, filled with a silent, desperate question.
Can we win this?
Caleb didn't answer with words. He reached down, picked up the black leather folder from the overbed table, and slid it into the front pocket of his work jacket.
"Hey!" the second attorney shouted, stepping forward to block Caleb’s path. "That folder is property of Vale Logistics. You have no legal right to remove corporate documents from this room."
Caleb took one step toward him. The attorney was six feet tall, but he spent his days behind a desk in Seattle. Caleb’s shoulder hit him like a piece of oak timber, shoving him sideways against the wall before he could even raise a hand.
"I'm leaving now," Caleb said to Preston, ignoring the lawyers entirely. "And I'm taking my daughter home."
"You won't make it to the state line with that folder, Ward," Preston hissed, his face twisting into that familiar, ugly mask of arrogance. "I’ll have the police at your house before you can unpack your truck."
"The police don't have jurisdiction over this report, Preston," Caleb said as he opened the door. "But the Judge Advocate General does."
"What the hell does JAG have to do with my company?" Preston barked.
Caleb stopped in the doorway, looking back over his shoulder.
May you like
"The Armington fleet isn't just used for your gala guests, Preston," Caleb said. "Vale Logistics holds the current transport contract for the Department of Defense at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. If you’re modifying executive transport vehicles with uncertified parts while transporting naval personnel, that’s not insurance fraud. That’s a federal violation of military procurement safety under Title 10."
He didn't wait for Preston to figure out the math. He walked out into the corridor, grabbed Maisie from her chair, and headed for the exit.
