Chapter 15 - Martin Comes Home
Martin Vale walked into the executive floor as if he still owned a corner office.
He was sixty-eight now, silver-haired, broad-shouldered, and perfectly calm.
Security surrounded him before he reached the elevators.
"Adrienne," he said when I appeared. "You've made a mess."
"You used my company to hide Sterling money."
"Allegedly."
"You stole Caleb's shares."
"Business disputes become theft only when the loser controls the story."
I wanted to hit him.
"Caleb recorded you."
For the first time, Martin's eyes changed.
"Caleb recorded everything."
"Caleb was unstable."
"And my father? Was he unstable too?"
Martin's jaw tightened.
"Your father had a weak heart."
"You knew before the autopsy?"
"Everyone knew."
"Police are on their way."
Martin shrugged.
"Then perhaps you should know what they'll find when they audit this company."
"Try me."
"Your father signed off on the charity transfers. Your mother introduced Leonard Sterling. Your own signature approved the acquisition that later absorbed the shell accounts."
"Forged signatures don't become mine because they resemble mine."
"Can you prove every one was forged?"
Not innocence.
If he could make the fraud indistinguishable from legitimate corporate history, he could drag Cross Technologies into years of litigation.
Grace had stepped out of the conference room.
Martin's face went blank.
"You threatened me when I told you about Marcus."
Martin said nothing.
"You told me Caleb would lose everything."
"He did lose everything. Then he died."
Martin finally spoke.
"Choose your next words carefully."
Grace's chin lifted.
"Why? Are you going to threaten my son too?"
"He already did."
Marcus stood there holding his phone.
Grace spun around.
"Marcus?"
He held up the screen.
"He called me yesterday."
May you like
The room froze.
Marcus had recorded the call.
