Chapter 4 - THE VANCE DEBT
Twenty years earlier, Charles Vance nearly forced Mercer Maritime into bankruptcy through a hostile debt takeover.
Henry fought him off.
The private settlement included one unusual clause: neither Charles nor his heirs could seek beneficial control of Mercer assets through debt, proxy, or marriage.
Claire stared at Rachel.
"My father literally put marriage in the settlement."
"He knew Charles."
If Adrian's courtship had been financially motivated, any benefit from the marriage could be challenged.
Then Brooks called.
Adrian had posted bail.
His lawyer described the archive-room incident as a domestic misunderstanding while prosecutors completed toxicology charges.
By evening, Adrian's publicist released a statement calling Claire unstable.
She read it once and deleted it.
Lily watched her.
"He lies a lot."
"Yes."
"Why did you marry him?"
Claire sat beside her.
"Because I believed what I wanted to believe."
"Like when I told you he was mean?"
Claire swallowed.
Lily had complained that Adrian called her dramatic, punished her for interrupting, and treated questions like disrespect.
Claire had told her to be polite.
"I should have listened better."
"You're listening now."
That was not forgiveness. It was a chance.
Brooks arrived with Adrian's phone backup.
A.V.: The old man hid something.
R.S.: I can manage probate. You manage Claire.
A.V.: And the child?
R.S.: Fear usually makes children obedient.
Then another message.
A.V.: If she won't sign, Crane says the dose can look like collapse.
Claire's blood went cold.
Before Brooks could leave to get a warrant for Dr. Crane, Claire's phone rang.
Unknown number.
Robert Sloan whispered, "Claire, your father was murdered."
Then the line went dead.
May you like
Thirty seconds later, Brooks traced the call to Philadelphia.
And found Sloan's storage-unit key in a bus-terminal locker.
