Chapter 7 - The Man at Grant's Right Hand)
Richard Vale had been Grant's friend before he became his CFO.
They met at twenty six.
Grant was rebuilding Mercer Capital after his father's death.
Richard was a young analyst with an extraordinary ability to find weaknesses in companies everyone else considered stable.
Grant hired him.
Within five years Richard became indispensable.
He stood beside Grant through lawsuits, hostile acquisitions and the public scandal surrounding Julian's disappearance.
He attended Grant's wedding.
He carried Evelyn's coffin.
He was one of the first people to hold Noah after his birth.
And now he had filed a petition declaring Grant mentally unfit.
Grant drove to Mercer Capital with Daniel beside him.
Tessa remained with Noah at the secure hotel.
Before Grant left, she caught his arm.
"Do not confront Richard alone."
Grant almost smiled.
"You've met Richard twice."
"I've met Vivienne hundreds of times."
Her meaning was clear.
Appearances were worthless.
Grant nodded.
"I won't."
At Mercer Capital, Richard was already waiting.
He stood behind the glass wall of Grant's office wearing a charcoal suit.
Silver hair.
Calm expression.
Grant entered.
Daniel stayed outside with security.
Richard looked at him.
"You found the filing."
Grant closed the door.
"Explain."
Richard sighed.
"I hoped you wouldn't see it until I had spoken to you."
"You tried to suspend my control of my own company."
"Temporarily."
"Explain."
Richard walked toward the windows.
"You've been erratic."
Grant laughed without humor.
"Have I?"
"Two collapses in one month. Missed meetings. Confusion. Unusual decisions."
"What unusual decisions?"
"You approved the Ralston acquisition."
Grant stared.
"The board approved it unanimously."
"Because you pushed it."
"What's your point?"
Richard turned.
"The Ralston laboratories are under federal investigation."
Grant had not known that.
"When?"
"Subpoenas arrived yesterday."
"For what?"
"Unauthorized genetic testing."
Grant felt a chill.
Tessa had worked for the Ralstons.
Daniel had discovered they lied to her about moving abroad.
Now their company was under investigation.
Grant asked, "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I was about to."
"You filed against me first."
"I had no choice."
"You always have a choice."
Richard's expression hardened.
"You haven't been yourself since Evelyn died."
Grant stepped closer.
"Do not use my wife."
"I'm trying to protect what your father built."
"By taking it from me?"
Richard looked almost offended.
"You think I want your chair?"
"I don't know what you want."
"For you to get help."
Grant watched him.
Richard's performance was excellent.
If Grant had not seen the filing, he might have believed every word.
He pulled out his phone.
"Do you know Vivienne Cross?"
Richard's eyes barely moved.
"Of course."
"Before I introduced you?"
"No."
"Do you know Tessa Monroe?"
"No."
"Brightwell Family Care?"
"No."
"Northstar Executive Health?"
A pause.
Small.
But there.
Grant saw it.
Richard said, "The medical company Vivienne used?"
"Interesting."
"What?"
"I didn't say Vivienne used them."
Richard's expression changed.
Grant continued.
"How did you know?"
Richard said nothing.
Grant's voice became colder.
"How did you know?"
Richard walked toward his desk.
"This conversation is becoming ridiculous."
Grant blocked him.
"Answer me."
Richard stared at him.
Then smiled.
It was not a friendly smile.
"You always were slower when things became personal."
Grant felt the truth before Richard admitted anything.
"You've known."
Richard loosened his tie.
"For a while."
"How long?"
"Long enough."
"Vivienne?"
"Useful."
"Tessa?"
Richard laughed softly.
"Tessa was a mistake."
Grant's hands curled.
"What does that mean?"
"She was supposed to make you feel safe."
"Who hired her?"
Richard looked toward the glass wall.
Daniel stood outside.
Security behind him.
Richard knew he could not simply walk away.
"You really want to do this here?"
"Yes."
Richard's face changed again.
The loyal CFO disappeared.
What remained was colder.
More tired.
"You spent your whole life believing Julian was the dangerous Mercer."
Grant said nothing.
Richard continued.
"Your father taught you that."
"My father caught Julian stealing."
"Your father caught Julian asking questions."
"About missing money."
"About missing people."
Grant stared.
Richard approached.
"Did Evelyn ever tell you why she was in upstate New York the night she died?"
Grant's heart stopped.
"She was meeting a client."
"No."
Richard spoke quietly.
"She was meeting Julian."
Grant's face went numb.
"Julian disappeared years before."
"He came back."
"You're lying."
"Ask yourself why Evelyn's laptop is missing."
Grant grabbed Richard by the jacket.
Daniel immediately entered.
"Grant."
Grant released him.
Richard straightened his suit.
"You see? Erratic."
Grant stared at him.
"Where is Julian?"
Richard smiled.
"I don't know."
"Where is Evelyn's laptop?"
"I don't know."
"Who forged the trust?"
Richard's smile disappeared.
"That wasn't me."
"Who drugged me?"
No answer.
Grant stepped closer.
"Who wanted Noah?"
Richard's eyes moved away.
For the first time, fear appeared.
Grant saw it.
"You are afraid."
Richard said nothing.
"Not of me."
Still nothing.
"Who are you afraid of?"
Richard looked through the windows toward the city.
Then he whispered.
"The person Evelyn found."
Grant waited.
Richard turned back.
"She thought Julian was hiding from you."
"He was."
"No."
Richard's face had gone pale.
"Julian was hiding from someone else."
Grant's phone rang.
Daniel checked the screen.
Tessa.
Grant answered.
"Tessa?"
Her breathing was fast.
"Grant, somebody knows where we are."
Grant's stomach dropped.
"Where's Noah?"
"With me."
"Lock the door."
"I did."
"What happened?"
"A package came."
"Don't touch it."
"I didn't."
"What package?"
Tessa's voice shook.
"It has Evelyn's name on it."
Grant closed his eyes.
"Who delivered it?"
"No one saw."
"Call hotel security."
"I already did."
Grant looked at Richard.
Richard's fear deepened.
Tessa continued.
"Grant, there's writing on the outside."
"What does it say?"
She read it.
"FOR NOAH WHEN HIS FATHER FINALLY LEARNS WHO KILLED ME."
The line went silent.
Grant could hear Noah crying in the background.
Then someone knocked on Tessa's hotel door.
Three slow knocks.
Tessa whispered, "Security isn't here yet."
Grant said, "Do not open that door."
Another knock.
Then a man's voice came from the hallway.
"Tessa Monroe?"
She stopped breathing.
May you like
The man continued.
"I'm Julian Mercer."
