CHAPTER 6 — THE DEAD MAN ENTERS THE BOARDROOM
Marcus Kane stood at the head of the table wearing a black tie and a carefully rehearsed expression of grief.
“We have lost more than a CEO,” he told the board. “We have lost a visionary.”
Celeste sat beside him in a dark dress.
Her eyes were red, but no tears fell.
On the wall behind them was a photograph of Adrian.
The caption read:
IN MEMORY OF ADRIAN VALE
Marcus placed one hand on Celeste’s shoulder.
“Under the emergency succession clause, Mrs. Vale will exercise her husband’s voting authority.”
The board secretary opened the contract documents.
“With Mr. Vale’s shares, the merger will pass.”
A voice came from the doorway.
“Then it’s lucky I still own them.”
Every head turned.
Adrian walked into the room.
Celeste went white.
Marcus’s hand fell from her shoulder.
One director stood so quickly his chair rolled backward.
“Adrian?”
Adrian looked at the memorial photograph.
“That’s a terrible picture.”
No one laughed.
He moved to his seat.
“Get out of my chair, Marcus.”
Marcus recovered first.
“We were told your vehicle exploded.”
“It did.”
Celeste’s lips parted.
Adrian looked at her.
“I wasn’t inside.”
The boardroom doors closed behind him. Two federal investigators entered with Adrian’s attorney.
Marcus forced a smile.
“This is clearly a misunderstanding.”
Adrian set the burned notebook on the table.
“A nine-year-old boy found a manual bypass on my brake system. My security chief pulled a gun on me. Three armed men attacked my home. And my wife somehow knew where that boy was hiding.”
Celeste stood.
“This is insane.”
“Sit down.”
“You don’t order me around.”
“Today I do.”
Marcus leaned forward.
“The merger vote is legally scheduled.”
Adrian slid a document across the table.
“It has been suspended.”
The attorney spoke.
“Vale Dynamics has filed notice of fraud, conspiracy, and illegal transfer of proxy authority.”
Several directors began whispering.
Adrian turned on the screen.
Footage from the basement appeared.
Marcus and Celeste kissed beside the white SUV.
Celeste’s grief disappeared.
“You had no right to record me.”
Adrian stared at her.
“You recorded me for months.”
The video changed to files showing the revised will and insurance policies.
Marcus pushed back from the table.
“This proves nothing.”
Adrian nodded.
“You’re right.”
Then the screen showed Grant Keller in the gatehouse, holding a gun against Adrian’s ribs.
Grant’s voice filled the room:
“I followed instructions.”
Adrian paused the video.
“Would you like to tell everyone whose instructions?”
Marcus said nothing.
Celeste suddenly smiled.
It was a cold, confident smile.
“You’re enjoying this,” she said. “But you forgot one thing.”
“What?”
“The boy.”
Adrian’s phone rang.
Luis.
Adrian answered.
All he heard was heavy breathing.
May you like
Then a man’s voice said:
“We have Milo.”
