Chapter 16 - The Second Plate.
By eight the next morning, Ethan had slept for exactly forty-one minutes.
Mara had not slept at all.
Rachel had spent the remaining hours duplicating Claire’s files onto isolated storage and creating a legal chain of custody for every document they had received.
Serena had been questioned and released pending further investigation because, as Rachel repeatedly reminded Mara, looking guilty was not the same as being chargeable.
Victor remained missing.
Daniel remained unreachable.
Claire remained a voice in Mara’s phone and a photograph in her pocket.
The acquisition signing was scheduled for 9:30 a.m.
Ethan canceled it at 8:07.
At 8:09, his chief financial officer called.
Howard Bell had worked for Cole Meridian for more than twenty years.
His voice carried the warm patience of a man who had spent decades being the adult in rooms full of ambitious people.
“Ethan, I’m hearing the signing is off.”
“For today.”
“Why?”
“Due diligence issue.”
“What kind?”
“Material.”
Howard sighed.
“You know the seller can invoke the delay clause.”
“I know.”
“And you’re comfortable risking the deposit?”
“Yes.”
Mara sat across the conference table and watched Ethan’s face.
Howard continued.
“Daniel isn’t answering.”
“I know.”
“Is that connected?”
“Maybe.”
There was a pause.
“Ethan, are you safe?”
The question sounded sincere.
Mara noticed how quickly Ethan softened.
“I’m fine.”
“Good.”
Howard’s voice lowered.
“Your father used to say deals become most dangerous ten minutes before everyone thinks they’re finished.”
Ethan looked toward Claire’s notebook.
“He said a lot of things.”
“He trusted me to tell him when he was being stubborn.”
“And now you’re telling me?”
“I’m telling you not to blow up a forty-million-dollar premium without giving me one hour.”
Ethan glanced at Rachel.
She shook her head.
“No signing today.”
Howard heard her.
“Who is that?”
“Counsel.”
“Outside counsel?”
“Yes.”
Another pause.
Howard’s tone changed only slightly.
“That sounds serious.”
“It is.”
“Then let me help.”
“I’ll call you.”
Ethan ended the conversation.
Mara tapped one finger on the notebook.
“He knew Daniel was missing.”
“Half the executive floor knows by now.”
“He asked if you were safe before he asked whether the company was safe.”
“That’s what a decent person would do.”
“Or someone checking whether last night worked.”
Ethan gave her a tired look.
“You’ve become suspicious of breathing.”
“Breathing has disappointed me less than people.”
Rachel almost smiled.
Then her laptop chimed.
An email had arrived from the seller’s counsel.
The formal signing was canceled, but a previously scheduled investor breakfast at Aurelia’s private event floor would proceed.
Three Cole Meridian board members were already there.
Howard Bell was on his way.
Ethan stood.
“We’re going.”
Rachel looked at him as though he had announced plans to juggle knives.
“No.”
“We need to see who still behaves as if the transaction is alive.”
“You can observe from somewhere that did not almost send you to the hospital last night.”
Mara looked at the email.
“Who are the board members?”
Ethan named them.
One name caught Rachel’s attention.
“Catherine Lane voted against the premium.”
“Yes.”
“She’s the biggest obstacle after you.”
Mara closed Claire’s notebook.
“Then I’m going.”
Ethan looked at her.
“You don’t work there anymore.”
“Good.”
She stood.
“That means Serena can’t fire me twice.”
Aurelia looked completely different in daylight.
The chandeliers were still on, but bright morning sun exposed every corner the evening lighting had softened.
The private event floor was above the main dining room.
A dozen executives sat around three tables while staff served coffee and breakfast plates.
Serena was nowhere visible.
A new acting manager greeted Ethan with nervous efficiency.
Howard arrived two minutes later.
He was sixty-two, silver-haired, broad-shouldered, and dressed in the kind of conservative gray suit that made expensive tailoring look ordinary.
He hugged Ethan briefly.
“You look terrible.”
“Good morning to you too.”
Howard glanced at Mara.
“And this is?”
“Mara Bennett.”
Recognition flickered in his eyes.
It was tiny.
Mara saw it.
Ethan did too.
“Have we met?” she asked.
Howard smiled.
“I don’t believe so.”
Before Mara could answer, a server approached Catherine Lane’s table carrying a white plate.
Mara’s attention went instantly to the rim.
A thin blue mark sat underneath it.
Her chair scraped backward.
Ethan followed her gaze.
“Mara?”
She was already moving.
The server placed the dish in front of Catherine.
Catherine reached for her fork.
Mara crossed the room.
“Don’t eat that.”
Every conversation stopped.
Catherine stared at her.
“Excuse me?”
Mara took the plate before the fork left the table.
Howard stood.
“What the hell is going on?”
Ethan watched him instead of Mara.
The acting manager hurried over.
“Ms. Bennett, you’re not permitted in the service area.”
Mara turned the plate over enough for Ethan to see the blue mark.
His face changed.
“Who plated this?”
The server looked terrified.
“I picked it up from the satellite kitchen.”
“Who handed it to you?”
“A man from executive service.”
“What man?”
“I don’t know his name.”
Howard stepped closer.
“This is becoming ridiculous.”
Mara looked at him.
“You recognized me when you walked in.”
Howard’s smile vanished.
“I recognized the name after Ethan introduced you.”
“I hadn’t told him my last name yet.”
The room went silent.
Ethan’s eyes moved slowly toward Howard.
Howard’s expression did not collapse.
It became very still.
Then a voice came from the service doorway.
“She’s right.”
Daniel Rusk walked into the room.
He looked exhausted.
His dark suit was wrinkled.
One of his silver cuff links was missing.
Howard stared at him.
Ethan did not move.
May you like
Daniel looked directly at Mara.
“I owe both of you the truth.”
