Chapter 9 - The Price of Riverbend
Crescent Point was not supposed to be Jonathan’s company.
That was the first problem.
Public corporate records listed Mercer Development as the majority owner.
Jonathan Reed appeared only as manager.
The second problem was worse.
When David’s investigator pulled the original formation records, he found that Mercer Development owned fifty-one percent on paper, but another entity held the remaining forty-nine.
Reed Strategic Holdings.
Jonathan owned that one outright.
“So Mercer borrowed twelve million,” Sarah said, “and sent it to a company Jonathan half owned.”
“Correct.”
“For what?”
“A luxury mixed-use project outside Charlotte.”
“Did Michael know?”
David tapped the April minutes.
“He knew someone wanted the loan. We don’t know whether he knew it closed.”
Sarah sat at David’s conference table surrounded by paper.
Mia was spending the afternoon with Danielle and Zoe under the watch of an off-duty deputy Ruiz had recommended. Sarah hated being separated from her so soon after the party.
But she needed to understand the thing Michael had died trying to preserve.
Or expose.
Or both.
“Riverbend is worth forty-one million,” she said.
“According to the current offer.”
“And selling it would pay off the credit line.”
“Partially. There are other obligations.”
“How many?”
David gave her a look.
“We’re still finding them.”
Sarah laughed.
“Of course.”
She opened Michael’s note again.
DO NOT LET MY MOTHER SELL RIVERBEND UNTIL YOU SEE THE 2024 BOARD RECORDS.
Michael had not written “save Riverbend.”
He had written “do not let my mother sell it until…”
That distinction mattered.
Maybe the sale itself was not the problem.
Maybe the reason for it was.
At four, Sarah drove to Mercer Development headquarters.
The glass building had Michael’s grandfather’s name engraved in limestone outside.
MERCER DEVELOPMENT GROUP.
She had attended charity events there.
Holiday parties.
Michael’s memorial.
Never a board meeting.
The receptionist recognized her and immediately looked nervous.
“I need Jonathan Reed.”
“He’s in a meeting.”
“Tell him Sarah Mercer is here.”
“I can—”
Sarah walked past.
The receptionist called security.
Jonathan emerged from the elevator before anyone stopped her.
He was fifty-eight, silver-haired, tall, and elegant in a dark suit despite the summer heat.
His wristwatch flashed under the lobby lights.
Silver.
Zoe’s description.
“Sarah.”
“Jonathan.”
“I heard Mia is safe.”
“Did you?”
His face barely changed.
“I was horrified.”
“Were you horrified before or after you turned off the cameras?”
Two employees slowed nearby.
Jonathan gestured toward a private conference room.
“Not here.”
“Why? Afraid somebody might write accurate minutes?”
That got him.
His mouth tightened.
Inside the conference room, he closed the door.
“You’re grieving and angry.”
“My husband died eighteen months ago. Stop using grief to explain why I can see you lying.”
“I did not touch your daughter.”
“Were you at Evelyn’s house yesterday?”
“Yes.”
“At two?”
“I arrived later.”
“The camera reflection says otherwise.”
His eyes shifted.
Only slightly.
Sarah noticed.
“What camera?”
“You tell me.”
Jonathan sat.
“Evelyn called me because Mia had found something belonging to Michael.”
“The blue envelope.”
“I never saw it.”
“Zoe saw you go downstairs.”
“A five-year-old saw a man.”
“She heard him say Evelyn only needed the key.”
Jonathan leaned back.
“That child is being asked too many questions.”
“Careful.”
“I mean for her sake.”
“No, you don’t.”
Sarah placed a photocopy of the altered minutes on the table.
Jonathan looked at it.
Then at her.
“Where did you get this?”
“Which version worries you?”
He did not answer.
Sarah placed the original scan beside it.
“For someone who runs numbers, you’re not very good at keeping two pieces of paper straight.”
Jonathan’s face changed.
The friendly family adviser disappeared.
A harder man remained.
“You have no idea what Michael did.”
“Tell me.”
“He signed off on the first Crescent Point financing.”
“The minutes were altered.”
“Not the first financing.”
Sarah paused.
Jonathan saw it.
“Michael knew the project was in trouble. He approved emergency funding because if Crescent Point failed, Mercer lost far more than twelve million.”
“Then why hide it?”
“Because your husband discovered consequences after he created them.”
Sarah’s anger shifted.
Not away.
Sideways.
“Michael caused this?”
“He was part of it.”
“Was Evelyn?”
“Yes.”
“And you?”
Jonathan smiled without humor.
“Obviously.”
Sarah stood.
“What is Riverbend really paying for?”
Jonathan did not answer.
She moved toward the door.
“Sarah.”
She turned.
He folded his hands on the table.
“You want to stop the sale because you think Evelyn is stealing from Mia.”
“Isn’t she?”
“No.”
For the first time, Jonathan looked genuinely tired.
“She’s trying to prevent Mercer Development from defaulting on a loan that becomes callable in ten days.”
Sarah stared.
“If that happens?”
“Banks freeze lines. Projects stop. Contractors sue. Three hundred and twelve employees wonder whether their paychecks clear.”
“You expect me to feel sorry for you?”
“No.”
Jonathan’s gaze dropped to Michael’s note in her hand.
“I expect you to understand why your husband was terrified.”
Sarah said nothing.
Jonathan continued.
“Ask David for the May fourteenth trustee draft.”
“I already saw it.”
“No. You saw the guardianship memo.”
Sarah’s stomach tightened.
May you like
“What draft?”
“The one where Michael removed you.”
