Chapter 11 - CLAIRE
At 5:32 a.m., Claire Mercer walked into the lobby of Caldwell Meridian with two federal agents.
Mary had expected a villain.
Claire looked exhausted.
She wore jeans, a black coat, and no makeup. Her eyes were the same gray as Robert’s.
“You must be Mary.”
“You gave Ethan my father’s records.”
“Yes.”
Mary’s voice went flat. “Why?”
“Because Ethan told me Robert was stealing company money to pay me.”
“He wasn’t.”
“I know that now.”
“I contacted federal investigators three weeks ago after I realized Ethan was moving money through accounts connected to my consulting firm.”
“You expect me to believe you’re helping?”
“No. I expect you to verify everything I say.”
One of the agents stepped forward and showed identification.
“Ms. Mercer has been cooperating in an active financial fraud investigation.”
Mary looked at Claire again.
“Where is my father?”
“I don’t know.”
“You were in the apartment.”
“Yes. I went there to meet Ethan. I was wearing a wire.”
“Robert arrived unexpectedly. Ethan told him there was a board emergency and that Mary wanted him there. When Robert realized it was a trap, he tried to leave.”
“What happened?”
“Ethan’s driver blocked the door. Robert started yelling. I left to call my handler.”
“You left my father there?”
Claire’s eyes flashed. “I had a wire on me and a federal agent listening. I thought they were moving in.”
The agent cut in. “We lost audio when the subjects moved locations.”
Then Claire reached into her coat and placed a flash drive on the table.
“Ethan gave me this yesterday.”
“The drive?”
“A copy.”
“What’s on it?”
“Your signatures. Robert’s signatures. Board access credentials. A plan for the vote.”
Daniel plugged the drive into an isolated laptop.
PHASE ONE: ESTABLISH MARY CALDWELL AS MEDICALLY UNRELIABLE.
May you like
The second line was worse.
PHASE TWO: REMOVE HER PERMANENTLY.
