Chapter 4 - The Three Days
The recording continued.
A second voice answered Vanessa.
Older.
Male.
Controlled.
“Keep the dog off-site. Lock the cane somewhere she can hear but cannot reach.”
Daniel recognized the voice.
Malcolm Reed.
Claire’s senior law partner.
Her mentor.
The man who had taught her how to question witnesses without raising her voice.
Malcolm stood among the gala guests in a black tuxedo, holding a champagne glass.
Claire turned toward him.
“You helped take Ranger?”
He did not immediately deny it.
“I was told the dog presented a temporary safety concern.”
“By whom?”
“Vanessa.”
Leah stepped forward.
“No certified trainer evaluated him.”
Malcolm looked at her uniform and staff badge.
“You are not part of this legal discussion.”
Claire’s face hardened.
“She knows more about Ranger than everyone in this room combined.”
Malcolm continued as though Leah had not spoken.
“Claire, your professional reputation was already at risk. Public confusion during a merger announcement would have damaged your credibility.”
“What confusion?”
“You were distressed.”
“My service dog disappeared.”
“Exactly.”
The cruelty was circular.
They created the crisis.
Then used Claire’s reaction as proof she could not handle one.
Leah activated Ranger’s secondary training beacon.
The main GPS unit had been removed from his harness, but a small veterinary tracker remained beneath his collar.
For three days, Ranger had been held at a private kennel outside Manhattan.
The kennel belonged to Reed Legal Services.
Malcolm’s firm.
Vanessa claimed she believed Ranger would remain there only until the engagement ended.
Leah examined the cut leash.
“He did not escape by breaking this.”
Someone had cut the strap cleanly after Ranger resisted being placed into a vehicle.
The satin caught in the clasp came from Vanessa’s sleeve because she had been holding him.
Vanessa looked toward Daniel.
“Your mother said Claire would forgive us once the merger was complete.”
Claire went still.
“Margaret knew?”
The elegant Harrington matriarch stood near the donor table.
May you like
She had spent three days comforting Claire.
She had also spent three days knowing exactly where Ranger was.
