Chapter 6 - The Poisoned Legacy
Two weeks after the night at the hangar, the financial fallout hit the news like a tidal wave. Apex Global stock plummeted by eighty percent in a single day as federal prosecutors unsealed sweeping racketeering indictments against its board of directors. Harrison Enterprises, bolstered by the truth coming to light, was officially awarded the eighty-million-dollar Illinois State Transit contract.
However, a new storm was brewing inside the walls of the Cook County Jail.
Diane Harrison sat in the visitor booth, staring through the thick bulletproof glass at her family attorney, Richard Sterling. Her face was hollowed out, dark circles bruising her eyes, and her manicured hair had grown dull and unkempt.
"What do you mean the court froze my personal accounts?!" Diane slammed her hand against the glass. "That money is mine! Michael gave those assets to me years ago!"
"Mrs. Harrison, please calm down," Sterling said nervously, adjusting his glasses. "Because the funds in your name were traced directly to corporate transfers from Harrison Enterprises—transfers that your son has now proven were authorized fraudulently through forged power-of-attorney documents—the state has placed a complete freeze on all your assets under the Asset Forfeiture Act."
"And Ashley?!" Diane hissed. "Where is my daughter?!"
"Ashley has... taken a deal, Mrs. Harrison," Sterling revealed quietly.
Diane froze. "What did you say?"
"Ashley’s public defender negotiated a plea bargain with the federal prosecutor yesterday," Sterling explained. "In exchange for a reduced sentence of five years in a minimum-security facility, she has agreed to turn state’s evidence and testify fully against both you and Julian Vance."
Diane’s face twisted into a mask of pure fury. "That ungrateful little brat! After everything I did for her! I arranged the deal with Vance to clear HER debt too!"
"Ashley's testimony explicitly names you as the mastermind behind the break-in and the drugging of Emma Harrison," Sterling added grimly. "The prosecution is offering you a deal now, Mrs. Harrison. Fifteen years without parole, if you plead guilty to all counts today. If you go to trial... you are facing thirty to forty years."
"Never!" Diane shrieked, banging her fists on the counter. "I am Michael's mother! He won't let me rot in prison! Get him on the phone! Bring him here right now!"
"Mr. Harrison has issued a formal refusal to receive any communications or visits from you," Sterling said flatly. "In fact, he has issued a full corporate directive to litigate any attempt you make to contact him or his wife as felony stalking."
That afternoon, Michael and Emma were sitting in the quiet sunroom of a new, high-security home they had recently purchased in Lake Forest, Illinois. The old Highland Park house had been put up for sale—neither of them wished to step foot inside a place tainted by such brutal memories.
Emma was sitting on a plush sofa, her bruises fading into faint yellow marks. Her abdomen showed a slight, beautiful swell under her loose sweater. Michael sat beside her, gently rubbing her feet while they watched the autumn leaves fall in the backyard.
A quiet knock sounded at the door, and Mercer, the investigator, walked in carrying a thick Manila envelope.
"Sorry to interrupt, Mr. and Mrs. Harrison," Mercer said respectfully. "We completed the forensic audit of your mother’s historical transactions over the last five years, as you requested."
Michael looked up. "Did you find out how she was getting the drugs she was putting in Emma’s tea?"
Mercer pulled out a series of medical records. "It was Dr. Arthur Gable—your mother’s private wellness physician in Naples, Florida. We discovered he was receiving illicit payments from your mother’s account to write off-label prescriptions for synthetic emetics and sedative compounds, mislabeling them as organic herbal supplements."
Emma gasped gently, pulling her blanket higher. "She was planning this for months... even before I got pregnant?"
"Yes, Mrs. Harrison," Mercer confirmed. "The medical logs show she began receiving those compounds six months ago—right around the time you and Michael announced your marriage publicly. Dr. Gable has already been arrested by Florida state authorities and his medical license has been revoked."
Michael stood up, taking Emma’s hand in his own. "Thank you, Mercer. Make sure the prosecution adds Dr. Gable’s confession to Diane’s official criminal docket."
"Already done, sir," Mercer nodded before leaving the room.
May you like
Emma looked out at the peaceful garden, tears glistening in her eyes. "Mike... sometimes I still wake up in the middle of the night hearing that hammer hitting the safe door. I keep thinking... what if you hadn't come home early that night? What if your flight wasn't cancelled?"
Michael sat down beside her, gathering her into his arms, resting his chin on her shoulder. "I did come home, Emma. Destiny brought me back to you. And I promise you, as long as I draw breath, no one will ever hurt you or our child again."
