Chapter 10 - The Man Who Ran

Police traced Victor’s call to a motel outside Buffalo.

By the time officers arrived, his room was empty.

No body.

No blood.

Just an open suitcase and a broken phone on the carpet.

Ruiz believed he had been taken.

My mother believed nothing.

At least publicly.

She went on television with her attorney and said she was the victim of a “cruel family smear campaign.”

Claire watched ten seconds before muting it.

“She looks heartbroken.”

“She’s good at that.”

“She raised you.”

I looked at her.

Claire reached for my hand.

“I’m not blaming you.”

“I am.”

“For what?”

“For teaching myself not to see her.”

Claire squeezed my fingers.

“You see her now.”

That afternoon, the board of Mercer Holdings called an emergency meeting.

My mother still chaired the board.

If she lost the chairmanship, the trust changes would become even more important. If Claire and our daughter controlled my shares after my death, Evelyn’s grip on the company would be over permanently.

There was the motive.

Control.

Not money alone.

Legacy.

At the meeting, my mother sat at the far end of the table.

She wore cream instead of black.

She always wore light colors when she wanted to look innocent.

“Nathan,” she said, “are you really going to destroy your father’s company over your wife’s accusation?”

I placed copies of the flash-drive records on the table.

“No. I’m going to protect his company from you.”

Board members shifted uncomfortably.

Her face remained still.

Then I played my father’s recording.

If Evelyn finds out I changed the trust, I don’t know what she’ll do.

My mother’s hands tightened.

The vote to suspend her as chair passed nine to three.

For the first time in thirty years, she lost control of the boardroom.

She stood, slowly gathered her purse, and looked directly at me.

“You think you won because nine frightened people raised their hands?”

“No.”

“Good.”

She walked to the door.

Before leaving, she turned.

“Ask your wife why she was meeting your father’s old attorney before the gala.”

I frowned.

Claire had never mentioned that.

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My mother smiled.

“Ask her what he gave her.”