Page 64 of King's Reckoning
Barbara cut in suddenly. "Beasley just appeared on a financial news network. He's making public statements about the historical evidence."
Before Rowan could respond, one of the screens in the command center switched to a news feed. There was Beasley, composed and professional in a crisp black suit as he addressed the camera.
"After further analysis of the documentation," he was saying, "I've identified significant methodological concerns that call into question previous authentication conclusions. While these historical claims deserve careful consideration, the evidence supporting them requires more rigorous verification than initially provided."
"Legal response teams, activate media protocol three," Rowan directed, but she recognized this was a carefully planned move. Beasley was using his academic credibility to create public doubt about evidence he had previously verified himself.
Just as they were preparing to respond, Reed's phone buzzed with an incoming message. His expression shifted as he read it.
"What is it?" Rowan asked, noting his sudden stillness.
"Anonymous tip," he said, handing her the phone. "Apparently, Beasley's son works for a pharmaceutical company that just received approval for a major research facility. On land directly affected by our historical claims."
Understanding dawned as the pieces connected. "They didn't bribe him or threaten him directly," Rowan realized. "They offered his family something he couldn't refuse."
"Classic leverage," King agreed. "The kind that doesn't look like obvious corruption but achieves the same result."
"Barbara." Rowan turned to the professor. "How quickly can you verify this connection? If we can document the conflict of interest..."
"Already on it," Barbara replied, her fingers flying across the keyboard. "Corporate filings, property records, approval documentation... If there's a connection, we'll find it."
As the alliance mobilized to address this new dimension, Rowan felt a strange sense of clarity. This wasn't just about winning legal battles or protecting historical evidence. It was about understanding the human elements at play. The personal vulnerabilities that could be exploited, the pressure points that could turn allies into opponents.
"We need to adjust our strategy," she said, gathering the core leadership team. "This goesbeyond just legal arguments or authentication methods. It's about people—their motivations, their vulnerabilities, their reasons for making the choices they do."
As the sun rose over the clubhouse, Rowan laid out a more comprehensive approach—one that addressed not just the legal challenges, but the human factors behind them. One that recognized the need to protect not just the historical evidence, but the people who supported it.
The battle for truth continued, but with a deeper understanding of what they were really fighting for—and against.
"I'm afraid your legal teams will find these documents quite securely protected," Beasley continued conversationally. "Complex authentication challenges—your mother's approach, actually. Very effective when properly implemented."
Rowan's blood ran cold at the casual reference to her mother. "What are you doing, Miles? These records were meant to help people."
"Help people?" Beasley's laugh held no humor. "My dear, these old papers were never about helping anyone. They were about leverage. Power. Control." His gaze seemed to bore through the video conference screen directly into their meeting room. "Until the right people could properly use them."
"Barbara?" Rowan asked quietly.
"Working on it," the professor replied, analyzing the legal documents rapidly. "But these challenges...they're definitely based on Elena's work. Advanced verification questions we hadn't anticipated."
Fresh understanding dawned as Rowan processed the implications. "You helped her develop those verification standards, didn't you? Worked alongside her on the original authentication framework?"
"Very good," Beasley approved. "Elena always said you were quick. Yes, we collaborated on multiple projects—including the verification methods currently keeping your legal teams scrambling. She was brilliant at creating unassailable documentation chains, you know. Saw possibilities none of us had considered."
More alerts appeared on Barbara's screen as legal filings multiplied across different jurisdictions. "Rowan," she said urgently. "Something bigger is happening. Multiple corporate entities are filing similar challenges..."
"Of course they are," Rowan replied grimly. "Because this isn't really about Beasley at all. Is it, Charles?"
"Perceptive," he said softly. "While you focused on the obvious legal challenge, my associates have been quite busy elsewhere. Testing your resources, monitoring your responses...learning exactly how your alliance protects these old papers."
"There are multiple legal challenges appearing," Barbara announced suddenly, her screen filling with case notifications. "They're attacking our authentication approach from several different angles, targeting specific weak points."
"The initial filing was just a distraction," Rowan realized, watching as new cases multiplied across their tracking system. "They needed us to trigger certain legal responses, see how we handle things."
"Precisely." Beasley's voice held dark amusement. "Though you're still not seeing the full picture. Tell me, did you ever wonder why Elena was so interested in land rights documentation? Why she spent years collecting these specific records?"
Rowan's mind raced as she coordinated responses to the legal onslaught. "She was tracking corporate land grabs. Documenting how they justified taking resources from rightful owners."
"That's what she told everyone, yes. Very convincing story." Beasley's image showed him reviewing documents, consulting with unseen associates. "But the truth was far more interesting. She wasn't just studying their methods—she was countering them. Creating a comprehensive framework to challenge generations of carefully constructed legal fiction."
