Chapter 4 - THE BOARDROOM
Daniel arrived at Brooks Meridian headquarters with Detective Ellis beside him and two uniformed officers following several steps behind.
The glass tower rose above the city like a monument to certainty.
Daniel’s grandfather had purchased the company’s first warehouse with borrowed money.
His father expanded it nationally.
Daniel had turned it into an international conglomerate.
For most of his adult life, the building had felt like an extension of his identity.
That morning, it felt occupied.
Security guards blocked the private elevator.
Marcus Reed stood near the reception desk.
“I gave instructions that Mr. Brooks was to be admitted,” he said.
The lead guard shook his head.
“Orders came from the board.”
“I am the head of corporate security.”
“Your credentials were suspended twenty minutes ago.”
Marcus looked at Daniel.
“This is a coordinated takeover.”
Daniel had already reached the same conclusion.
A group of reporters waited beyond the lobby doors.
Someone had alerted them.
Victor Hale stood near the elevators with Serena.
She wore a gray suit and carried a leather folder.
There were no handcuffs.
No fear.
She looked like a woman attending a business conference.
When she saw Daniel, she smiled.
“You brought the police to your own company?”
Daniel glanced at her folder.
“You brought forged documents to mine.”
Victor stepped forward.
“My client will not discuss pending accusations.”
“She discussed them with three newspapers.”
“Mrs. Brooks defended herself against a public smear campaign.”
Detective Ellis displayed her badge.
“I need both of you to remain available for questioning.”
Victor’s smile did not change.
“My client has complied with every lawful request.”
The private elevator opened.
Julian Voss emerged.
He wore a dark blue suit and the silver tie Daniel had given him after their first billion-dollar acquisition.
“Daniel,” Julian said.
“You should not have come.”
“It is my company.”
“That is what the board is about to determine.”
Daniel looked at the man he had trusted for eleven years.
“You stole forty-eight million dollars.”
Julian’s expression remained calm.
“That is a serious accusation.”
“The records are in my house.”
“Then perhaps your wife placed them there.”
Serena gave Julian a sharp glance.
It lasted less than a second.
Daniel saw it.
So did Detective Ellis.
Julian had just separated himself from Serena publicly.
Their alliance was already cracking.
The boardroom occupied the forty-seventh floor.
Twelve directors sat around an oval table.
Daniel recognized each face.
He had attended weddings with them.
He had supported their charities.
He had defended several during public scandals.
None stood when he entered.
His father, Richard Brooks, sat at the far end.
At seventy-two, Richard still possessed the severe posture that had terrified competitors for decades.
He watched Daniel without expression.
Daniel had called him six times since the previous evening.
Richard had not answered.
“Father.”
“Sit down,” Richard said.
Daniel did not.
Julian took the chair beside Serena.
Victor remained behind her.
The board secretary began reading an emergency resolution.
It cited concerns about Daniel’s psychological stability, violent conduct, substance misuse, and potential risk to shareholders.
Daniel listened until she finished.
“Who provided the allegations?”
Serena opened her folder.
“I did.”
She distributed copies of medical documents.
Victor explained that Serena had spent two years attempting to manage Daniel’s alleged deterioration privately.
The board reviewed reports from Dr. Stephen Mercer.
They claimed Daniel suffered from paranoia, explosive anger, and delusions following Rachel’s death.
Daniel looked toward his father.
“You know this is false.”
Richard folded his hands.
“I know the company cannot survive uncertainty.”
“My children were assaulted.”
“That matter belongs to the police.”
“My wife and CFO planned to remove me.”
“Prove it.”
Detective Ellis stepped forward.
“We have substantial evidence supporting an active criminal investigation.”
Richard looked at her.
“Has anyone been charged?”
“Not yet.”
“Then we are discussing allegations.”
Daniel felt something colder than anger.
Richard had always worshiped the company.
Daniel had once admired that commitment.
Now he saw it for what it was.
Cowardice disguised as discipline.
Julian presented a final document.
It granted Serena temporary authority over Daniel’s voting shares if two physicians declared him incapacitated.
One signature belonged to Dr. Mercer.
The other belonged to Dr. Anthony Lane, a physician Daniel had never met.
Daniel held up the page.
“My signature is forged.”
Serena tilted her head.
“You signed it last year.”
“Where?”
“During our anniversary trip.”
“We were in Rome.”
“Yes.”
“The document was notarized in California.”
The room went silent.
For the first time, Serena looked uncertain.
Julian quickly intervened.
“Administrative notarization can occur after execution.”
“Not legally,” one director said.
Daniel turned toward her.
Margaret Chen had led the company’s audit committee for nine years.
She studied the document.
“The notary stamp is dated before the Rome trip.”
Julian’s mouth tightened.
Daniel placed copies of the financial-transfer records on the table.
“Vantage Advisory Group received forty-eight million dollars from company accounts.”
Margaret looked toward Julian.
“Is this entity familiar to you?”
“No.”
“The registration lists you as managing partner.”
“That must be fabricated.”
Daniel continued.
“The transfers were authorized through your office.”
Julian looked toward Richard.
“We should suspend the meeting until forensic experts verify these claims.”
Daniel almost smiled.
An hour earlier, Julian wanted urgency.
Now he wanted delay.
Detective Ellis received a call.
She stepped into the hallway.
The board began arguing.
Serena whispered something to Victor.
Richard remained silent.
Daniel approached his father.
“Why didn’t you answer me?”
Richard looked at the city through the window.
“You were emotional.”
“My children were hurt.”
“And your first response was to call the police, creating a public spectacle.”
Daniel stared at him.
“My first response was to protect them.”
“Protection is not always public.”
“What does that mean?”
Richard finally looked at him.
“It means families handle problems privately.”
Daniel remembered Rachel’s funeral.
He remembered his father insisting that the highway accident required no further investigation.
He remembered how quickly the company’s legal team settled with the trucking firm.
“What did you handle privately after Rachel died?”
Richard’s face changed.
It was subtle.
Daniel saw it.
Before he could ask again, Detective Ellis returned.
She held up her phone.
“We found Rosa Martinez.”
Rosa had worked as the children’s nanny until six months earlier.
Serena claimed she resigned without warning.
“We need to leave,” Detective Ellis said.
“Why?”
“Because Rosa did not resign.”
Daniel followed her into the hallway.
“She was admitted to St. Matthew’s Hospital under another name.”
“What happened to her?”
“She was found unconscious in a motel room three counties away.”
Daniel stopped.
Detective Ellis lowered her voice.
“She says Serena tried to kill her.”
Behind them, the boardroom doors opened.
Serena stepped into the hallway.
Her face was calm.
Yet Daniel saw her hand tighten around the leather folder.
Detective Ellis watched her as well.
Then Daniel received a message from an unknown number.
It contained a photograph of Ava and Noah at Lake Briar.
The image had been taken through the kitchen window less than one minute earlier.
May you like
Beneath it were seven words.
DROP THE CASE OR LOSE THEM AGAIN:
