Chapter 7 - THE EXIT PLAN

The private company was called Crown Meridian Partners.

Its registered office was an empty suite in Delaware.

Its bank accounts were overseas.

Its purpose was obvious.

Richard and Lucas had been preparing to strip liquid assets from Sterling Holdings before anyone discovered the larger fraud.

Michael looked across the table.

“How long?”

Claire answered.

“Possibly years.”

Richard stood again.

“This is speculation.”

Then Amanda placed the flash drive on the table.

“No.”

“It isn’t.”

Lucas stared at her.

His face lost all color.

“Amanda?”

“Hello, Lucas.”

“What are you doing here?”

“Finishing what I should have finished eight years ago.”

Amanda’s drive contained emails.

Invoices.

Voice recordings.

One recording filled the boardroom.

Richard’s voice.

If she signs the settlement, bury the accounts.

If she refuses, bury her.

Nobody spoke.

Then Lucas’s younger voice answered.

She’ll sign.

She always gets scared when family is involved.

Willow stared at her husband.

Lucas would not meet her eyes.

Amanda folded her arms.

“I was afraid.”

“She isn’t.”

Richard pointed toward the door.

“Get this woman out.”

Michael looked at security.

“Nobody removes her.”

Richard turned toward him.

“You think you can take my company?”

Michael’s face remained calm.

“It was never only yours.”

Claire continued.

The preliminary report suggested hundreds of millions had been diverted across fifteen years.

Some money funded Sterling lifestyles.

Some covered failing investments.

Some had been moved into private accounts.

But one category remained unexplained.

Payments to six companies controlled by the same unknown beneficiary.

Willow studied the list.

One name repeated.

HARBOR NORTH TRUST.

“What is that?”

Richard’s face betrayed him.

Michael noticed.

“So did Willow.”

Lucas whispered.

“Dad?”

Richard said nothing.

Claire turned another page.

“Harbor North received ninety-six million dollars.”

“We cannot identify the beneficiary.”

Amanda leaned back.

“Then find who signed the authorization.”

Claire looked down.

“Richard did.”

Marion suddenly stood.

“That’s enough.”

Everyone turned.

For the first time that morning, the Sterling matriarch looked shaken.

Willow watched her carefully.

“Do you know what Harbor North is?”

Marion’s silence answered.

Richard snapped.

“Marion, sit down.”

She looked at her husband.

Something old and poisonous passed between them.

Willow understood.

Lucas thought the secret belonged to Richard.

Richard thought the secret belonged to Marion.

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And whatever Harbor North contained was frightening both of them more than the stolen millions.

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