Chapter 10 - The Boardroom TrapAt nine the next morning, Daniel walked into Mercer Residential headquarters wearing the same navy suit he had worn to Emily’s funeral.
Marcus sat at the far end of the boardroom.
He smiled.
Not warmly.
Confidently.
“Daniel.”
Daniel took his seat.
Seven directors surrounded the table.
Corporate counsel attended remotely.
Marcus began with concern.
That was his first mistake.
He spoke about Daniel’s grief.
His sleeplessness.
His erratic decisions.
The police investigation.
Then he displayed photographs from the lake house.
Daniel’s sweater.
Daniel’s medicine.
The forged note.
“I do not make this recommendation lightly,” Marcus said. “But the company cannot be led by someone facing a possible criminal investigation involving his own child.”
Daniel listened silently.
Marcus expected rage.
He received none.
Robert Keene looked uncomfortable.
“Daniel, do you wish to respond?”
“Yes.”
Daniel placed one document on the table.
A forensic audit.
“Five point seven million dollars transferred to Marlowe Strategic Consulting.”
Marcus’s face did not move.
Daniel placed down another.
“Owned through entities controlled by Marcus Vale.”
A director shifted.
Then another document.
“Photographs of Marcus using an unauthorized reproduction of my signature.”
Marcus leaned back.
“Those images could be manipulated.”
“Perhaps.”
Daniel pressed a button.
The screen behind him displayed Emily’s files.
Eleven years of transactions.
Silence.
Marcus finally stopped smiling.
Daniel looked around the boardroom.
“My late wife discovered an embezzlement system linked to our CFO and my father.”
One director whispered, “Jesus.”
Daniel continued.
“I spent years believing my family company represented security. It represented something else.”
He looked at Marcus.
“A hiding place.”
Marcus stood.
“This meeting is adjourned.”
“No,” Robert said.
Everyone turned.
Robert removed his glasses.
“You requested the meeting. You do not get to adjourn it because the evidence became inconvenient.”
Marcus looked toward the door.
Two federal agents entered.
Maya had shared Emily’s financial records with the FBI after discovering evidence of interstate wire fraud and bribery.
Marcus did not panic.
Instead, he smiled again.
That frightened Daniel more.
“You should answer your phone,” Marcus said.
Daniel’s phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
Maya signaled him through the glass partition.
Take it.
Daniel answered.
Grant’s voice.
“You embarrassed the wrong man.”
Daniel remained calm.
“Where is Kate?”
“Ask Marcus.”
Daniel looked at him.
Marcus was watching.
“You have ten seconds.”
Grant laughed.
“You think you're negotiating?”
“No.”
Daniel’s eyes stayed on Marcus.
“I think you’re disposable.”
Marcus’s smile faded.
Daniel continued.
“Marcus has federal agents standing behind him. If Kate dies, he gains nothing. If you help us find her, you might avoid spending the rest of your life in prison.”
Silence.
Grant stopped laughing.
Daniel had guessed correctly.
Men like Grant were loyal to money, not people.
Grant whispered, “He said I’d be protected.”
Marcus lunged toward Daniel.
Agents restrained him.
“Shut up!”
The entire room froze.
Daniel spoke into the phone.
“You hear that?”
Grant said nothing.
“Marcus is finished.”
Another pause.
Then:
“She was alive when I left her.”
Daniel’s chest tightened.
“Where?”
Grant hesitated.
“Westbridge.”
Daniel knew the name.
The fake refinancing deal.
“What is Westbridge?”
“A development site.”
Marcus shouted.
“He’s lying!”
Agents forced him against the table.
Grant continued.
“There’s an old sales office under the parking structure.”
Daniel turned toward Maya.
She was already calling tactical units.
“Baltimore?”
“Yes.”
“Is Kate there?”
“She was.”
“Was?”
Grant’s voice dropped.
“I left her with someone.”
“Who?”
A sound came through the phone.
A car door.
Then Grant whispered:
“Vanessa wasn’t the only person inside your family.”
The line disconnected.
Daniel stared at Marcus.
He expected fear.
Instead, Marcus looked almost amused.
And Daniel understood.
They had uncovered the affair.
The contractor.
The security manager.
The shell company.
Grant.
But someone else had access no outsider should have had.
May you like
Someone who had known Daniel since before Vanessa entered his life.
Someone Marcus believed Daniel would never suspect.
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