Chapter 7 - WHO CHANGED THE PLAN
David and Arthur finally cooperated.
Their original instructions were:
Retrieve H-7, notebook, sealed envelope.
Deliver unopened to attorney Samuel Reddick.
Do not confront Claire.
Do not enter if occupied.
Call Michael Hale for access.
That sounded almost lawful.
Then forty-eight hours before the break-in, Michael contacted David.
No written message.
Phone call.
Michael said Claire had “become unstable after Daniel’s death” and might destroy company property.
He instructed them to retrieve the materials immediately.
David asked for updated written authority.
Michael replied:
“The original contract covers it.”
Arthur was uncomfortable.
David wanted the fee.
Original contract fee:
$8,500.
Michael offered another:
$12,000
for same-night recovery.
That payment came from Michael’s personal account.
Claire said:
“So Michael turned a controlled document transfer into a break-in.”
Grace nodded.
But Lauren Pierce had a response.
Michael believed the materials belonged partly to Hale Manufacturing.
He believed Claire had no right to retain corporate records.
He believed delay could increase legal exposure.
Could that justify forced entry?
No.
Could it explain motive without proving he intended violence?
Yes.
Again, the story refused to become simple.
Investigators also found that Michael had called Samuel Reddick, the outside lawyer named in Daniel’s contract, before calling David.
Reddick refused to release or receive anything without Claire or estate counsel involved because Daniel was dead and ownership of the materials was now disputed.
Michael became angry.
He said:
“Daniel hired them to move the evidence.”
Reddick answered:
“Daniel also directed delivery to counsel, not to you.”
That distinction mattered.
Michael then called David.
Within an hour, the emergency fee appeared.
Lauren later argued Michael believed Reddick was being overly cautious while evidence remained unsecured.
Grace replied:
“He had a lawful option.”
“What?”
“Call Claire’s probate counsel.”
Michael said:
“And tell her everything before we even knew exposure?”
Grace looked at him.
May you like
“Yes.”
That was precisely the choice Michael had been trying to avoid.
