Chapter 2 - BEFORE MIDNIGHT
Claire woke in the hospital with Lily asleep beside her.
Toxicology found zolpidem and a fast-acting benzodiazepine in her blood. Neither had been prescribed.
Attorney Rachel Kim spread Adrian's petition across the bed tray.
"It says you have escalating psychiatric instability."
"According to who?"
"Dr. Samuel Crane."
Claire knew him as Adrian's physician. He had never treated her.
The petition asked the court to recognize Adrian, as her new husband, as emergency medical decision-maker if Claire became incapacitated.
Then Rachel tapped another page.
"This is really about Lily."
Lily's trust controlled thirty-two percent of Mercer Maritime. Claire controlled twenty-four. Together, fifty-six percent.
If Claire were hospitalized and Adrian became Lily's temporary guardian, he could control both voting blocks.
"The board votes tomorrow morning," Rachel said.
Claire understood.
The wedding had to happen tonight. Her collapse had to happen before midnight.
Detective Brooks produced a second document: a trust authorization supposedly signed by Claire the day before.
"I never signed this."
"Robert Sloan notarized it."
Claire stared.
Sloan had known her since she was sixteen.
Then Lily woke.
"Are they taking Adrian away?"
"For now."
Lily rubbed her eyes. "He said Grandpa left a second will."
Claire froze.
"When?"
"Yesterday. He told Mr. Sloan, 'If Claire sees the second will, everything changes.'"
There had never been a second will. At least, Sloan had always said so.
Rachel's phone buzzed.
"Robert Sloan is missing."
"Missing?"
"His office is empty, his phone is off, and someone just broke into the Mercer probate archive."
Claire looked at the forged signature again.
Then Brooks received another alert.
The archive had only one damaged cabinet.
May you like
Henry Mercer's.
And one sealed envelope was gone.
