Chapter 14 - A NAME STOLEN TWICE
Emma read the document once, then again, her mouth tightening with each line.
"This says I watched Adrian sign it in his study last Tuesday," she said. "I wasn't even in the house."
"You were at your mother's," Adrian said.
"And I have a pharmacy receipt, a bus ticket, and three neighbors who saw me."
Nora asked the board chair to suspend proceedings until the signature could be examined. She also notified the court that someone appeared to be submitting new forged evidence while under a preservation order.
"This has gone beyond a bad business deal," one director muttered.
Graham snapped his briefcase shut. "You're all letting sentiment run a corporation."
"No," said the board chair. "We're finally asking for facts."
The directors voted to appoint an independent auditor, freeze the Bellweather transaction, and place Graham on administrative leave. Adrian remained a director but agreed to step back from day-to-day decisions during the investigation. He wanted the company protected from him as much as from his enemies.
In the hallway, reporters surrounded Emma. She stopped long enough to say, "I didn't sign that paper. My mother's home is not collateral in somebody else's scheme." Then she left through a side door.
Adrian caught up outside, keeping a careful distance.
"I owe you more than thanks," he said.
"You owe me honesty going forward. Whether we're together or not."
"I can do that."
"We'll see."
She took a step toward her car, then turned back. "There's something else. I heard Vanessa on the phone the night of the gala. She said, 'If he makes it to Friday, we're finished.'"
"Friday was the vote."
"I know that now."
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Before Adrian could answer, his phone rang. Detective Ortiz had obtained a warrant for the company server.
The data vault had been emptied overnight.
