HER RECORDING DESTROYED THE LIE

Officer Hayes told us to stay home.

Walter ignored him.

So did I.

In the end, Hayes compromised. Walter and I rode in an unmarked police SUV but stayed two blocks from the warehouse while tactical officers went inside.

Daniel remained at the house with Maya and the rest of the family.

At 5:18, the radio cracked.

"Victim located. Alive."

Walter sagged against the seat.

Grant was found tied to a chair in a back office, dehydrated and bruised but conscious.

There was no sign of Victor.

But there was a laptop.

And on that laptop police found a draft acquisition agreement between Sloane Capital and Carter Industrial Group.

The purchase price was thirty-two million dollars.

Less than half the company's estimated value.

Grant confirmed the rest from the ambulance.

"Evelyn brought me revised trust pages Thursday," he said. "She wanted Walter's signature copied onto them. I refused. Victor's people grabbed me Friday night."

Walter looked like he had aged ten years.

"Why didn't you call me Thursday?"

Grant closed his eyes. "Because I thought Evelyn was bluffing."

Everyone had underestimated her.

At 5:42, Hayes received another message from officers at Walter's home.

Evelyn was gone.

She had asked to use the downstairs bathroom during questioning, opened a small window, and climbed into the side garden.

Daniel had discovered it three minutes later.

"Where would she go?" Hayes asked.

Walter and I answered at the same time.

"The board meeting."

We raced downtown.