Chapter 2 - NINE MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT
Mary did not move away from the door.
On the other side, drawers opened. A lamp crashed. Vanessa swore.
Daniel’s voice sharpened through the phone. “What drive?”
“I don’t know yet.”
“Then do not confront him. Send me the transfers.”
Mary photographed the papers and forwarded them. The first transfer was for $1.8 million. The second, $2.4 million. The third had been scheduled for Monday morning.
All three came from a subsidiary Mary controlled.
All three were approved under her name.
Daniel went quiet for several seconds.
“This is fraud,” he finally said.
“I figured.”
“And if his employment agreement is still the same, a fraud finding lets the company repurchase his restricted shares at the original grant price.”
“Which is?”
“Almost nothing compared to what they’re worth now.”
Six years earlier, Ethan had joined Caldwell Meridian as a polished consultant with an easy laugh and a talent for finding waste in complex businesses. Two years later, he had proposed. Her father had trusted him. The board had trusted him.
Mary had trusted him most of all.
A soft knock came from the far end of the hall. Her mother, Evelyn Caldwell, appeared in a pale blue gown.
“There you are,” Evelyn said, breathless. “Everyone’s seated.”
“Oh, honey. What happened?”
The suite door suddenly opened three inches before the security latch caught.
“Mary, listen to me. Vanessa set this up.”
Vanessa shouted from behind him, “You lying son of a—”
Mary held up one hand. “Mom, go downstairs. Tell Dad not to announce anything.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Finish something.”
Daniel spoke through the phone. “Mary, I need you in a secure room. Now.”
Then another call flashed across her screen.
Mary answered.
May you like
Arthur did not say hello.
He said, “Why did Ethan just send the board a notice claiming you’re mentally unfit to control your voting trust?”
