Chapter 18 - THE SECOND WILL
"How does a state prisoner get an immediate diplomatic extraction?" Christian shouted as they raced toward the fleet of SUVs parked outside.
"They claimed Clara is an accredited attache to the West African mission Arthur purchased," Owen explained, slamming the driver’s door shut.
"The magistrate signed the release on a writ of habeas corpus based on foreign sovereign immunity."
"They are putting Clara on a private Gulfstream bound for Geneva in forty-five minutes."
"Once she leaves American airspace, we can never question her again."
Julian was already sitting in the passenger seat, his fingers flying across the tablet's keyboard.
"They don't care about Clara's freedom," Julian said, his voice razor-sharp.
"Arthur doesn't spend twenty million dollars on diplomatic cover just to save a failed operative."
"Then why extract her?" Christian asked, pulling his seatbelt tight as Owen launched the SUV down the driveway, sirens wailing.
"Because Clara has something on her person that Arthur needs to authenticate the Geneva claim," Julian stated.
"The key from the grandfather clock was only half of it."
"The partition deed requires two elements to be opened in the presence of the Swiss court."
"The key, and the thumbprint of the registered witness."
Christian looked at his son, shock flashing across his features.
"Clara wasn't just Arthur’s agent," Christian whispered, putting the final puzzle piece together.
"She was Leopold’s secret daughter."
"Leopold's illegitimate child from his years in Paris," Julian confirmed, pulling up an old birth registry from the Canton of Vaud.
"Arthur didn't hire a random actress to deceive you, Father."
"He found your half-sister."
"He used her greed and her resentment against you to infiltrate the house."
"And now that she has the key and her biological heritage is established, Arthur can file the partition as the surviving guardian of Leopold's secondary line."
"If they take off from Teterboro, they take half of everything you own, and you can never challenge it."
Christian looked out the windshield at the grey ribbon of highway rushing beneath the wheels.
The rain had started again, heavy sheets of water slamming against the glass.
"Owen, contact the Port Authority Police at Teterboro," Christian ordered.
"Tell them we have evidence of high treason and fraudulent representation of diplomatic credentials."
"They won't stop a diplomatic convoy based on a corporate tip, Christian," Owen replied grimly.
"Federal protocols tie their hands."
"Then we stop them ourselves," Christian said.
Julian looked down at the 1982 ledger resting on his knees.
"We don't need to stop the plane with force, Father," Julian said softly.
"We just need to broadcast the truth to the one person Arthur is actually afraid of."
Christian turned to the boy.
"Who is Arthur afraid of?"
"The Swiss bankers who backed his twenty-million-dollar bond," Julian replied, a sharp, brilliant smile touching his lips.
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"Arthur told them he had an uncontested claim."
"Let's show them the ledger."
