Chapter 13 - The Other Version of Dylan MercerThe story about Dylan's past appeared on a local news website on July 6.
Its headline described him as a troubled former employee with a history of disciplinary problems.
The article claimed Dylan had been reprimanded at a previous job for ignoring instructions and becoming confrontational with supervisors.
It quoted an unnamed source who said Brightwater's management had acted responsibly by suspending him.
The source provided no documentation.
By lunchtime, the article was everywhere.
Dylan read it in Leah's office.
His hands shook.
"That's a lie."
Leah studied the article.
"Did anything happen at your previous job?"
Dylan looked away.
"Yes."
"What?"
"Two years ago, I worked at a lakeside restaurant. My manager wanted me to close alone after a power outage. The fire alarm wasn't working. I refused."
"What happened?"
"He told me to leave."
"Were you disciplined?"
"He wrote me up for insubordination. I quit the next week."
Leah nodded.
"Do you have the paperwork?"
"Probably."
"Good. We need the complete context."
Dylan looked at her.
"You think they'll keep doing this?"
"I think somebody wants people arguing about your character instead of examining the ride."
He leaned back.
"Maybe I should never have worked there."
Leah closed the article.
"Would that have made Grace safer?"
Dylan shook his head.
"Then don't confuse somebody else's dishonesty with your own mistake."
That evening, Dylan received a call from an old restaurant coworker, Marcus Hill.
"I saw the article," Marcus said.
"Everybody did."
"It's garbage."
Dylan smiled faintly.
"Thanks."
"I was there the night they fired you. The alarm panel was dead. You refused to lock the restaurant with people still inside."
Dylan sat up.
"Would you say that publicly?"
"Of course."
For the first time all day, Dylan felt something like relief.
But the next call was worse.
His former manager had been contacted by a private investigator.
The investigator had offered to purchase copies of employee records.
Dylan immediately told Leah.
Within hours, she sent a formal demand to the publication asking it to correct the unsupported characterization and contacted the former employer regarding any improper release of personnel information.
She did not promise an instant retraction.
"These things take time," she told Dylan.
He rubbed his face.
"How long before people stop believing them?"
Leah's answer was painfully simple.
"Some people never will."
Across town, Evelyn was hosting a charity luncheon.
Thirty guests sat beneath a white canopy in her garden, eating salmon and discussing summer fundraisers.
Evelyn moved among them with practiced grace.
She wore a pearl necklace Samuel had given her for their thirtieth anniversary.
Nobody looking at her would have guessed that investigators were examining her involvement in an incident involving her own granddaughter.
During dessert, Hollis Crane approached.
"We have a problem," he murmured.
Evelyn kept smiling at her guests.
"What problem?"
"The financial diligence team wants details about North Quay."
"Then provide standard documentation."
"They want the beneficial ownership records."
Evelyn's smile stiffened.
"Why?"
"Because our counsel noticed payments to an affiliated vendor. They won't let us pretend the conflict doesn't exist."
Evelyn looked toward the lake.
"Can it be restructured?"
"Not without disclosure."
"And if the transaction fails?"
Hollis lowered his voice.
"We're not financing a fraud, Evelyn."
She turned sharply.
"Choose your words."
"I'm choosing them carefully."
He studied her.
"I understood that you could persuade Nathan to sell. I did not agree to inherit undisclosed financial liabilities."
For the first time, Evelyn looked frightened.
Then her expression changed into something calculating.
"You can buy the property through a clean asset transaction."
"Only with sufficient due diligence and appropriate approvals."
"We can arrange both."
Hollis shook his head.
"I won't sign anything until my lawyers are satisfied."
He walked away.
Evelyn watched him go.
She had imagined Hollis as the instrument that would save the family fortune.
Now he was beginning to look like another person who might betray her.
That night, Nathan found a small envelope beneath his office door.
There was no return address.
Inside was a photocopy of an old legal memorandum dated February 2021.
It concerned a proposed amendment to Samuel Ward's family trust.
The document would have removed the requirement for annual independent financial review and expanded the trustee's ability to enter transactions involving related companies.
A handwritten note appeared beside Samuel's signature line.
Absolutely not.
Nathan recognized the words.
He called Miriam immediately.
"Did my father refuse an amendment before he died?"
Miriam was silent for several seconds.
"Yes."
"Then why does the trust file contain a later amendment granting my mother those powers?"
Another pause.
"Nathan, I need you to tell me exactly what document you're looking at."
He described it.
Miriam's voice turned grave.
"Your father expressly declined that proposal at our February meeting."
Nathan felt his pulse quicken.
"Could he have changed his mind?"
"Of course. But I wasn't involved in any later execution, and my office never received a properly authenticated replacement."
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying we need to examine the document your mother has been using."
Nathan looked down at the memorandum.
The supposedly executed amendment in the family's records was dated April 9, 2021.
Samuel had been hospitalized that week for a serious cardiac condition.
He died the following month.
Nathan remembered visiting him.
Remembered his father's weak hands.
Remembered Evelyn telling everyone Samuel was too tired for business discussions.
May you like
He looked at the signature line on the amendment.
And suddenly he could not remember the last time he had seen his father hold a pen.
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