Chapter 7 - the empty chair)
At exactly noon, Jessica entered the Sterling Holdings boardroom alone.
Every conversation stopped.
Wendy sat at the far end of the table.
Frank beside her.
Michael's chair was empty because he remained with investigators.
Harold Pike had been released temporarily under attorney supervision after agreeing to cooperate.
He avoided Jessica's eyes.
The board members watched her with varying degrees of fear, curiosity and suspicion.
Nobody knew Luke was conscious.
Only Jessica, Cole and a small medical team knew he had improved enough to speak clearly for longer periods.
Publicly, Luke remained in critical condition.
Jessica wore the same black funeral dress.
She had refused to change.
Let them remember what they had tried to bury her in.
Charles Denton, the CFO, cleared his throat.
"Jessica."
"Charles."
"We weren't certain you'd attend."
"I wasn't certain either."
Wendy gave a short laugh.
"You don't belong here."
Jessica sat.
"I own twelve percent of Sterling Holdings through my marital trust."
Wendy's smile vanished.
"Only until Luke's death is legally settled."
"Luke isn't dead."
Murmurs moved around the table.
Wendy leaned forward.
"He may never regain capacity."
Jessica looked at her.
"Are you disappointed?"
Frank's jaw tightened.
Charles struck the table softly.
"Enough."
A large screen displayed the governance agenda.
Emily Warren's chair remained empty.
Jessica intentionally looked at it.
"Where is Emily?"
Nobody answered.
Pike shifted slightly.
Jessica noticed.
"You know something?"
"No."
"You've been lying to this family for seven years, Harold. Your face is becoming easier to read."
Several board members looked at him sharply.
Pike went pale.
Frank said, "This meeting is not a criminal hearing."
Jessica looked at him.
"That's fortunate for you."
Charles stepped between them verbally.
"Emily requested this emergency session but has not appeared. Until she does, we should postpone."
"No."
Wendy's voice cut across the room.
"We vote."
Jessica turned.
"On what?"
"Temporary executive authority."
"Luke is alive."
"And incapacitated."
"So you want his company before you know whether he can speak."
Wendy smiled.
"It's my family's company."
A board member near the window spoke.
"It is a public corporation."
Wendy ignored him.
She placed a folder on the table.
"Luke executed a succession recommendation last month."
Jessica's pulse changed.
Wendy opened the folder.
"In the event of incapacity, he recommended Frank Vance as temporary executive chairman."
Frank looked appropriately solemn.
Too appropriately.
Jessica held out her hand.
"May I?"
Wendy hesitated.
That was enough.
Jessica stood and took the document herself.
She read the signature line.
Luke A. Sterling.
Jessica almost smiled.
Same forgery.
"You should have hired a better forger."
Wendy stiffened.
"Excuse me?"
"My husband does not sign corporate documents with his middle initial."
Frank said, "That's absurd."
Jessica looked around the table.
"Check every genuine resolution Luke signed in the last ten years."
Charles Denton opened a digital archive on his tablet.
The room remained silent.
He looked up.
"She's right."
Frank's expression hardened.
Jessica placed the forged document on the table.
"And since we're discussing forged signatures, perhaps we should also discuss Meridian Consulting."
Wendy went perfectly still.
Pike closed his eyes.
Several board members began speaking at once.
Frank stood.
"This meeting is over."
"No."
Jessica's voice was quiet.
Everyone stopped.
She placed photocopies of Arthur's ledgers on the table.
"Eighty-seven million dollars moved through dormant Sterling subsidiaries."
Charles stared at the first page.
"Where did you get this?"
"Arthur Sterling."
Wendy's face changed.
Jessica watched her carefully.
Not surprise.
Recognition.
Wendy whispered, "That old bastard."
The room heard her.
Jessica felt the final illusion begin to crack.
A board member asked, "Wendy, did you know about these accounts?"
Wendy stood.
"I will not be interrogated by my son's wife."
Jessica leaned back.
"Why not? You had no problem interrogating me beside his coffin."
Frank headed for the door.
It opened before he reached it.
Detective Cole entered.
Two investigators followed.
Frank stopped.
Cole said, "Sit down."
Wendy stared at him.
"You have no right."
"Actually, I have several."
He placed a document on the table.
"Search warrant."
Frank looked toward Pike.
Pike lowered his eyes.
Cole continued.
"Mr. Pike has provided evidence of forged corporate records, hidden payments and conspiracy to conceal financial crimes."
Wendy turned slowly toward Pike.
"You coward."
Pike looked at her.
"You tried to bury a living man."
Wendy's expression twisted.
"I did no such thing."
Cole nodded toward the screen.
"Then perhaps you can explain why Dr. Keller received six hundred thousand dollars twelve days before Luke's supposed death."
Wendy said nothing.
Jessica watched Frank.
He seemed angry.
But not frightened enough.
That bothered her.
Cole received a message.
His expression changed.
He whispered something to one investigator.
Then looked at Jessica.
Emily Warren had been found.
Alive.
She had walked into a police station in New Jersey.
She claimed someone had abducted her from her garage and forced her to abandon her car.
Most importantly, she claimed she knew who Crown was.
Jessica felt every eye in the room shift.
Cole ended the meeting immediately.
But as Jessica left the boardroom, Frank caught her arm.
Only for a second.
His voice was almost gentle.
"You think you've won."
Jessica pulled free.
"I think you're afraid."
Frank smiled.
"Emily won't help you."
"Why?"
"Because by tonight, she'll understand the same thing Luke should have understood years ago."
Jessica stared at him.
"What?"
Frank leaned closer.
May you like
"Crown isn't a person."
Then he walked away.
