Chapter 14 - The Board Vote
I called an emergency board meeting.
Thomas came with two attorneys.
Graham Pike came with one.
Marcus appeared by video from counsel's office because of his pending case.
Vanessa was not a director, but her attorney demanded access.
Denied.
For the first time in thirteen months, I stopped trying to keep everyone comfortable.
Rachel presented the death certificate.
Peter presented the account logs.
Elena presented the IT directive.
Then Claire's attorney appeared.
I had not known she had one.
Claire had signed a sealed succession instruction six months before her death.
If she died, her voting shares transferred to me immediately.
If her death was concealed, any vote cast in her name after death was void and subject to independent review.
Thomas put both hands over his face.
He had known the general succession agreement.
He had not known Claire created this updated directive.
The merger vote died before it began.
With Claire's shares transferred, I had enough votes with three independent directors to suspend Thomas and Graham pending investigation.
"You're destroying the company."
I heard Claire's voice in my head.
You keep choosing peace over conflict.
"No," I said. "I'm stopping you from using it as a hiding place."
"This is ridiculous."
Peter projected the password-reset logs.
"Sit down," Rachel said.
He walked toward the door.
Two investigators were waiting outside.
They asked him to come with them for an interview.
He looked back at Thomas.
That was the moment Graham understood loyalty had expired.
Then Marcus's lawyer interrupted.
"Dr. Hale is prepared to make a statement."
Marcus appeared on screen.
He looked smaller than the man who had treated my father.
"I kept Claire's account active," he said.
"Why?" I asked.
"Because Thomas told me the board could not survive disclosure."
Thomas slammed his hand on the table.
"That's a lie."
Marcus kept going.
"And because Vanessa had the certificate."
"Meaning?"
May you like
He looked straight at the camera.
"She was blackmailing us too."
