Chapter 7 - FIFTY-ONE PERCENT
Walter's company was divided among four family trusts.
Walter controlled thirty-nine percent.
Daniel held twelve.
Together, father and son controlled fifty-one.
Unless Daniel had signed away his vote.
Walter called the company's corporate secretary from the police officer's phone.
Five minutes later, the answer came back.
Daniel's proxy had been filed Tuesday morning.
It granted Evelyn authority to vote his shares for ninety days.
"Can she sell them?" Daniel asked.
"Not directly," Walter said. "But she can help remove me as chairman."
Evelyn's expression finally cracked.
"You were going to destroy the company anyway."
"By refusing to sell it to your boyfriend?"
"Victor is not—"
"Don't insult me twice."
Walter turned away.
Officer Hayes received a call and stepped into the hall.
When he returned, his face had changed.
"We located Grant's car."
"Where?" Walter asked.
"Parking garage near Sloane Capital. Driver's door open. Phone inside. No Grant."
Evelyn looked toward the window.
"Mrs. Carter," Hayes said, "do you know where he is?"
"No."
My phone buzzed again.
This time the message contained no photograph.
Just an address.
And six words.
COME ALONE IF YOU WANT GRANT ALIVE.
I showed nobody.
Then Daniel stepped beside me and saw the screen.
"Absolutely not."
I pulled the phone away. "You don't get to order me around now."
"I'm not ordering you. I'm scared."
"You weren't scared when your mother dragged me across the floor."
His face folded.
"I know."
He took a breath. "Show Hayes."
So I did.
Police traced the address to an abandoned print warehouse on the edge of town.
As officers prepared to leave, Walter's corporate secretary called again.
Her voice was shaking.
"Mr. Carter, there's an emergency board meeting scheduled for six tonight."
"Called by whom?"
"Mrs. Carter."
Walter checked the time.
4:47 p.m.
May you like
Evelyn smiled.
"You have seventy-three minutes," she said.
