Chapter 13 - The Unexpected Ally
The man in the sharp gray suit adjusted his tie, casting a calm, reassuring gaze over the tense group in the interrogation room. Detective Miller straightened up immediately, recognizing the newcomer.
"Counselor Vance," Miller said, nodding respectfully. "I thought you retired from estate litigation last year."
"I did, Detective. But my favorite client always knew how to draft a posthumous puzzle that brought me out of retirement," Attorney Vance replied with a faint, knowing smile. He set his briefcase on the metal table and popped the latches. "I represent the late patriarch's true intentions. And based on what I overheard in the hallway, we are running out of time to save this family from financial ruin."
Martha crossed her arms, still deeply suspicious. "Where were you when the bailiffs broke in? Or when Robert was tearing the house apart?"
"I was securing the legal injunction that stops the foreclosure clock the moment the smart contract executes," Vance answered smoothly, pulling a certified document from his briefcase and sliding it across the table toward Detective Miller. "Which brings us to the hardware drive currently confiscated from Mr. Robert Hayes."
Miller picked up the legal document, scanning the official seal before looking up at the lawyer. "Robert is refusing to hand over the drive voluntarily."
"He doesn't have a choice," Vance said calmly. "The hardware drive isn't his personal property; it was purchased using corporate funds from the family business, making it an estate asset subject to immediate seizure under the emergency probate clause."
Iris felt a wave of profound relief wash over her. She pulled the cardstock containing the access string from her pocket and placed it beside the lawyer's briefcase. "I have the first half of the key right here, Mr. Vance. And I know how to execute the biometric override."
Vance looked at Iris, his eyes softening with genuine warmth. "Your grandfather spoke very highly of your technical mind, Iris. He knew Martha's temper and Robert's greed would clash, but he believed you were the only one level-headed enough to hold everything together."
Martha swallowed hard, a tear finally escaping her eye and rolling down her cheek, cutting a clean path through the dried cake frosting still lingering on her skin. She looked at Iris, her voice trembling with sincere remorse.
"I am so sorry, Iris," Martha whispered, the confession long overdue. "For the party, for the stick, for all of it. I was so terrified of losing everything that I became the monster he always warned us about."
Iris looked at her aunt, the lingering hurt finally dissolving into forgiveness. "We save the house first, Martha. Then we fix the family."
Detective Miller unlocked the heavy metal door, signaling for a junior officer to retrieve the confiscated hardware drive from holding. Within minutes, the drive was placed on the table next to Iris's access card.
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Iris plugged the sleek black USB drive into her laptop, the screen illuminating her face with a bright blue glow as the cryptographic interface loaded.
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