Carter's trembling hand emerged with a pair of thin black leather driving gloves and a miniature magnetic torque wrench used exclusively for high-end orthopedic hardware.
Dr. Keller: That tool is calibrated specifically for the tension bolts on Julian's brace.
Carter: I found it on the pavement outside! I was going to bring it to your room, Julian!
Julian: You expect me to believe you found a surgical-grade micro-wrench on the hotel driveway?
Carter: It's the truth! Why would I want to hurt you?
Julian: Because Father's revised will takes effect on Friday at midnight. If I survive until Friday, the entire sixty-million-dollar real estate portfolio rolls into my irrevocable trust fund.
Carter: You stole that inheritance from me! I worked at the firm for fifteen years while you traveled the world opening design studios!
Julian: You didn't work, Carter. You embezzled four million dollars from the corporate mortgage account, and Father found out the week before he passed away.
Carter took a step backward, but the security guards stood like stone pillars behind him.
Carter: You can't prove anything. The word of an unsupervised child won't stand up for five seconds in front of a grand jury.
Clara: Excuse me, sir...
The maid stood up, pulling a small silver smartphone from her apron pocket.
Clara: The hotel requires all custodial staff to keep our time-tracking cameras active while we service the private suite balconies.
Carter: Shut your mouth, you peasant!
Julian: Let her finish, Carter!
Clara: I was filming the balcony rail inspection outside suite 402 twenty minutes ago. The camera angles directly down toward the executive loading bay.
Clara tapped the screen with a trembling thumb and turned the phone toward Julian.
Clara: You can see him clearly kneeling by the wheelchair rack while Mr. Vance was checking his bills at the desk.
Julian stared at the screen. The footage was crystal clear: Carter leaned over the bionic brace while Julian was in the lobby restroom, loosening the secondary hydraulic retaining pins with the black-gloved wrench.
Julian: Call the precinct. Tell Detective Harris we have an attempted murder suspect in custody.
Carter: Julian, please! Think about our family name! We can settle this privately out of court!
Julian: The only place you're settling into is a state penitentiary cell.
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