“He was not confused.”
“You weren’t there every day.”
“You told me I shouldn’t be.”
Preston’s mouth opened, but Sophie continued.
“You told me the doctors wanted fewer visitors.
You told me he had delegated everything to you.
You told me he signed the voting proxy because he no longer trusted my judgment.”
Her voice remained low.
That made the accusation worse.
I turned the key.
The seal released with a faint hiss.
Inside the capsule were three objects wrapped in heat-resistant film: a black memory card, a brass safe-deposit key, and a narrow strip of paper folded into quarters.
Sophie unfolded the paper.
The handwriting changed her face.
I had never met Charles Archer, but I knew the moment a daughter recognized her father’s hand.
The note contained one sentence.
Sophie read it aloud.
“Trust the machine that never lied to me, and distrust the man who says this car is only metal.”
Everyone looked at Preston.
He laughed once, but there was no humor in it.
“A dying man’s riddle proves nothing.”
Elena stepped closer.
“Then you won’t mind if we examine the memory card.”
“I mind because Archer Capital has regulatory obligations.
Unknown media could contain client information.
It should be turned over to counsel.”
Sophie held out her hand.
“Your phone.”
Preston stared at her.
“You’ve been texting since the capsule appeared,” she said.
“Give Elena your phone.”
“You cannot confiscate my property.”
“No.
But I can remove you from my property.”
Preston looked at the closed garage door, the security guard, and the two assistants who had stopped treating him like the most powerful person in the room.
Then he slipped the phone into his pocket.
“I’m leaving.”
The security guard did not move.
Sophie spoke without raising her voice.
“You may leave after Elena photographs the service authorization and after my lawyer confirms that nothing belonging to the estate is leaving with you.”
“You’re taking legal advice from a mechanic now?”
“No,” she said.
“I’m taking mechanical advice from a mechanic.
That is already more honest than the financial advice I received from you.”
Elena called Archer Capital’s general counsel and placed the phone on speaker.
She described the capsule, the authorization bearing Preston’s signature, and the sabotaged oil component.
Counsel told them not to insert the memory card into any networked device.
A forensic laptop and two outside attorneys were dispatched to the estate.
The emergency board meeting scheduled for three that afternoon was suspended.
That was the first fact Sophie had not known.
“What emergency meeting?” she asked.
Elena froze.
Preston closed his eyes for half a second.
The general counsel answered carefully.
“Mr.
Vance submitted a resolution this morning seeking your temporary suspension as chief investment officer.
