Chapter 5 - The Lease That Was Never Really a Lease
By sunrise, Olivia understood only enough to become more suspicious.
The tower housing Reed Avery Legal Group had been purchased six years earlier by Crown Meridian Holdings.
Three months later, ownership passed to a company controlled by Malcolm.
That was the public record.
But a private memorandum referenced a beneficial interest belonging to the CR Strategic Legacy Trust.
In practical terms, Malcolm controlled the property.
But somebody else may have held an economic claim.
Possibly Olivia.
Possibly for years.
She confronted Malcolm at breakfast.
He did not deny it.
"Your grandfather wanted you protected."
"By secretly placing property around me?"
"He believed people make different decisions when they know they're being watched by inheritance."
"So he kept me ignorant."
"Yes."
"That's not protection."
"Maybe not."
Olivia stared at him.
"How much of the building belongs to the trust?"
"I can't answer."
"Can't or won't?"
"Can't."
"Who can?"
"Mercer."
Again.
Always Mercer.
Olivia immediately instructed Julian to locate him.
The answer came that afternoon.
Bradley Mercer had disappeared from normal professional life eighteen months earlier.
No active website.
No public office.
No recent court appearances.
His bar registration listed an address in Springfield.
The property was empty.
Then, at 4:23 p.m., Henry entered Olivia's office without permission.
He tossed a newspaper clipping onto her desk.
It showed Olivia outside the courthouse that morning.
"You enjoy this?"
She looked at him.
"Winning cases?"
"Being photographed."
"I don't control reporters."
"You've always needed attention."
Olivia leaned back.
"Why are you here?"
Henry looked around her office.
"Beautiful view."
"Why are you here?"
"I heard you met Malcolm."
Olivia's expression did not change.
"So?"
"So stay away from him."
"You're giving me relationship advice now?"
"He's trying to turn you against your family."
"You appear capable of doing that yourself."
His jaw tightened.
"There are things you don't understand."
"Then explain them."
Henry walked to the window.
"When your grandfather got old, Malcolm manipulated him."
"Into what?"
"Changing things."
"What things?"
"The estate."
Olivia waited.
Henry turned.
"I was supposed to inherit control."
"Of what?"
"Everything."
She almost laughed.
"You still think everything belonged to you."
"It was supposed to."
"According to whom?"
"My father."
"Did he put that in writing?"
Henry's face darkened.
"You sound like a lawyer."
"I am a lawyer."
"You're my daughter first."
"No. I'm a person first."
He slapped his palm onto her desk.
"This is exactly what he wanted."
"Who?"
"Charles."
Olivia became still.
Henry had rarely called his father Charles.
"He wanted what?"
"To make my children distrust me."
"You've managed that without help."
Henry leaned across the desk.
"Listen carefully. Malcolm is going to tell you stories. Mercer may contact you. Documents may appear."
Olivia studied every word.
"And?"
"Ignore them."
"Why?"
"Because your grandfather was sick."
"With what?"
"Age."
"That's not a diagnosis."
"He became paranoid."
"About you stealing from him?"
Henry froze.
Olivia saw the confirmation immediately.
"You know about April 14."
His breathing changed.
"What did Malcolm tell you?"
"Enough."
"That bastard."
"Did you steal from Grandpa?"
Henry paced away.
"I borrowed money."
"Without permission."
"For a deal."
"That's theft."
"I repaid it."
"After you were caught?"
Henry turned on her.
"You have no idea what it was like working under him."
"I know what it's like working under a controlling father."
His face hardened.
For several seconds neither spoke.
Then Henry said something unexpected.
"Mercer destroyed our family."
Olivia frowned.
"I thought Malcolm did."
"They both did."
"How?"
Henry opened his mouth.
Then stopped.
Something had frightened him.
Not Olivia.
The subject.
"What happened to Mercer?"
Henry picked up the newspaper clipping.
"If he contacts you, tell me."
"Why?"
"So I can protect you."
Olivia almost smiled.
"From him?"
Henry looked directly at her.
"From whatever your grandfather left behind."
He walked out.
Olivia waited until the elevator doors closed.
Then she called Julian.
"Find Mercer faster."
That evening, someone slid an envelope beneath Olivia's apartment door.
Inside was a brass key.
A storage-unit number.
And one sentence.
May you like
YOUR FATHER IS RIGHT ABOUT ONE THING.
CHARLES LEFT SOMETHING BEHIND.
