Chapter 19 - The Trustee's Decision
Nina Ellis received three calls before breakfast.
The first was from Graham.
The second from the company's outside attorney.
The third from Marjorie.
She answered the third with a sigh.
"Good morning, Mrs. Mercer."
"Is it?"
Nina set down her coffee.
"How can I help you?"
"You can stop encouraging my son to dismantle his father's company."
"I'm reviewing a proposed transaction on behalf of Wesley's trust."
"And your review has turned into a witch hunt."
"There's an independent accounting investigation. That's not quite the same thing."
Marjorie's voice sharpened.
"You've made your position very clear."
"Good."
"You think you can block this sale indefinitely?"
"I can decline to approve a transaction that doesn't meet the trust's interests."
"That boy is seven years old. He doesn't know the first thing about company finances."
"No. That's why his grandfather appointed an independent trustee."
Marjorie went quiet.
Then she said, "Thomas trusted me."
Nina looked at the photograph of Thomas Mercer hanging beside her office bookshelf.
He had been a difficult client.
Proud.
Opinionated.
Fiercely devoted to his family.
He'd also insisted that Wesley's inheritance be protected by someone outside the family.
"Thomas trusted you in many things," Nina said. "He made a different choice about this one."
Marjorie's breathing became audible.
"You're making a mistake."
"Possibly. That's why I get independent advice and review evidence."
Nina paused.
"But I won't be threatened into voting away a child's property."
She ended the call.
At the Mercer mansion, Wesley was preparing to visit Travis.
Tessa had brought a cardboard ship kit, three tubes of glue, and the kind of enthusiasm that made Travis immediately suspicious.
"She's gonna let me use the big scissors?" Wesley asked.
Graham frowned.
"Probably not."
"Aw."
"Buddy, last time you used big scissors you cut a hole in your pajama pants."
"That was science."
"That was a drafty evening."
Wesley laughed.
Graham watched him pull on his sneakers.
For the first time since the incident, he'd chosen the blue pair.
Graham didn't mention it.
He walked Wesley to the gate.
Travis opened it.
The purple bruise had faded to yellow.
Wesley stared.
"Your face looks better."
"Thanks. I've been working very hard on having one."
Wesley grinned.
"Did it hurt a lot?"
Travis glanced at Graham.
Then he crouched.
"Yeah, it did."
Wesley looked worried.
"Because of Daddy?"
"Because something happened that shouldn't have."
Wesley considered that.
"I'm sorry."
Travis shook his head.
"Hey. You don't owe me an apology."
"But you got hurt because you helped me."
Travis's expression softened.
"I'd help you again."
Wesley studied him.
"Even if Daddy got mad?"
Travis held his gaze.
"Even then."
Graham looked away.
He'd thought the worst moment was when he hit Travis.
But hearing his son measure the possibility of being rescued against the possibility of his father's anger was almost unbearable.
Tessa appeared in the doorway.
"Is that my assistant shipbuilder?"
Wesley brightened.
"Yes!"
"Good. Your supervisor has made coffee and contributed absolutely nothing."
Travis pointed at himself.
"I purchased the glue."
"Leadership is sacrifice," Tessa replied.
Wesley laughed and ran inside.
Graham stayed at the gate.
"Thanks," he said.
Travis nodded.
"Pick him up at four."
At two-thirty, Nina arrived at the company office for the emergency member meeting.
Marjorie had requested a vote to suspend Graham's management authority.
Her lawyers argued that the assault investigation raised concerns about his judgment.
Graham's counsel acknowledged the incident.
No attempt was made to excuse it.
But the company agreement required a majority of membership interests for the proposed management action.
Marjorie controlled twenty-five percent.
Graham held forty-five.
And Wesley's trust held thirty.
Nina stated that, in light of the documented financial concerns and unresolved conflicts surrounding the sale, she would not vote the trust's interest to remove Graham.
The motion failed.
Marjorie stared at her.
"You've chosen him."
Nina closed her folder.
"I've chosen not to replace one unreviewed decision with another."
Graham stood.
"Mom, we need to investigate what happened with Sycamore and Cedar Vale. The records have to be preserved."
Marjorie gave a thin smile.
"Of course. You and your new friends can spend months investigating while the company runs out of money."
"Then we'll find a lawful financing solution."
"You sound like Claire."
Graham met her eyes.
"Thank you."
Marjorie's smile disappeared.
After the meeting, Marjorie approached Graham near the elevators.
"You think you've won."
He shook his head.
"This isn't a game."
"Everything is a game to people who don't understand what losing costs."
Graham looked at her.
"What did losing cost you, Mom?"
She hesitated.
For the briefest moment, he thought she might answer honestly.
Then her face hardened.
"Your father trusted the wrong people at the end. I won't make the same mistake."
The elevator opened.
She stepped inside.
Before the doors closed, she added, "Ask your precious neighbor whether he'd still be so helpful if his own life were being picked apart."
Graham watched the doors meet.
Then he called Nina.
"We need to make sure Travis isn't being threatened."
Nina agreed.
But while they were talking, Detective Delgado received another call from the digital-evidence unit.
The remaining files from the pool camera had been reconstructed.
May you like
The examiner was ready to show investigators the full sequence.
And this time, the recording didn't stop when Marjorie carried away the ladder.
