Chapter 5 - The Mistress Gets Arrested
Vanessa Kensington was arrested at 2:11 the next morning.
The charges began with aggravated assault.
They did not stay there.
By breakfast, prosecutors were reviewing possible conspiracy charges.
Vanessa's attorney arrived before dawn.
His name was Martin Hale.
He had a polished reputation, an expensive office, and enough experience to know when his client was in serious trouble.
He also knew Harrison.
Their first conversation happened in a courthouse conference room.
Martin closed the door.
"Harrison."
"Martin."
"My client insists there was no plan."
"Your client pushed a pregnant woman down thirty steps."
"She admits contact."
"That's generous."
"She says Khloe was threatening her."
Harrison almost laughed.
"Threatening her?"
"Verbally."
"Then I assume you have audio."
Martin hesitated.
Harrison leaned back.
"Because I do."
Martin's face changed.
Harrison placed his phone on the table.
A witness standing near the courthouse doors had captured part of the confrontation.
Vanessa's voice played clearly.
You should have signed the papers when Richard gave them to you.
Then Khloe answered.
I'm not giving either of you my company.
Vanessa laughed.
You won't have a company much longer.
The audio stopped.
Martin said nothing.
Harrison picked up his phone.
"Your client didn't shove my sister because of jealousy."
Martin frowned.
"Then what are you suggesting?"
"I'm not suggesting anything."
"I'm telling you what the evidence will establish."
"Richard and Vanessa were trying to take control of Harrington Development."
"Khloe discovered it."
"They lured her to the courthouse."
"And when she refused to cooperate, Vanessa put her hands on a woman carrying an eight-month-old child."
Martin rubbed his jaw.
"You don't have conspiracy."
"Not yet."
That last word worried him.
Meanwhile, Richard tried to visit Khloe.
Hospital security stopped him.
He called her twelve times.
She did not answer.
He sent seventeen text messages.
Khloe read only the first.
I'm sorry things got out of control.
She stared at the screen.
Then she handed the phone to Harrison.
"Save everything."
He nodded.
Another message arrived.
Vanessa shouldn't have touched you.
A third followed.
But you shouldn't have provoked her.
Khloe gave a humorless laugh.
"There he is."
Harrison looked at her.
"Who?"
"My husband."
"The man who always finds a way to make what he did my fault."
She turned her phone off.
That afternoon, Harrison wheeled Khloe into the NICU.
Her daughter rested inside an incubator beneath a tiny knitted cap.
Khloe pressed her fingers against the clear wall.
"Hi, sweetheart."
The baby's hand moved.
Khloe began crying.
Harrison stood several feet away.
He gave her privacy until she looked back at him.
"I'm naming her Eleanor."
"Mom would've liked that."
"I know."
Harrison walked closer.
Khloe looked at her daughter.
"Richard doesn't get to take anything else from me."
"He won't."
"No."
She turned toward her brother.
"I don't want you protecting me from the truth anymore."
Harrison understood what she meant.
For years, he had tried to stay away from Khloe's marriage.
He had disliked Richard.
But every time Khloe defended her husband, Harrison backed away.
No longer.
"What do you want?"
"Everything."
Harrison nodded once.
"Then everything is what you get."
That evening Lena called.
She had finished the initial review of the flash drive.
"Harrison."
"What did you find?"
"Emails."
"Between Richard and Vanessa?"
"Yes."
"How bad?"
Lena's silence answered first.
Then she said quietly.
"There's one from Richard dated two days ago."
"What does it say?"
"He wrote, 'Once Khloe can't sign, the incapacity clause gives me control.'"
Harrison's hand tightened.
Lena continued.
"And Vanessa replied."
May you like
"What did she say?"
"'Then make sure she can't sign.'"
