Chapter 12 - THE MAN ARTHUR CALLED BROTHER
The flash drive contained enough evidence to bury Daniel Mercer.
But Daniel was already moving.
At 6:00 Sunday morning, Vance Meridian’s chief financial officer called Arthur.
“We have unauthorized administrative access attempts.”
“From where?”
“Internal credentials.”
“Shut down external access.”
“I can’t without board approval.”
Arthur clenched his jaw.
“Who changed that policy?”
A pause.
“Daniel Mercer’s firm drafted the cybersecurity governance update.”
Of course.
By noon, federal investigators were involved.
Rebecca had reconstructed fourteen shell companies.
Elena had moved money through six.
Daniel controlled eight.
Samuel Price had approved fraudulent transfers.
Victor Shaw had manipulated internal security.
But one name appeared repeatedly in authorization logs.
Peter Caldwell.
Arthur’s CFO.
Arthur stared at the screen.
“No.”
Rebecca said nothing.
“Peter was my college roommate.”
“I know.”
“He was Lucas’s godfather.”
“I know.”
Arthur stood.
“Call him.”
Peter arrived at the mansion forty minutes later.
He saw the investigators.
Then Arthur.
His face changed.
“Arthur…”
“How much?”
Peter stopped.
“What?”
“How much did Daniel pay you?”
Peter looked toward the door.
Arthur slammed both hands onto the table.
“HOW MUCH?”
“Three million.”
Maria, standing in the hallway, closed her eyes.
Arthur stared at the man he had once called brother.
“Why?”
Peter’s voice shook.
“My daughter.”
Arthur’s anger faltered.
“What about her?”
“She needed treatment in Switzerland. Insurance wouldn’t cover it. I borrowed money.”
“From Daniel?”
Peter nodded.
“He said I could repay him through consulting work.”
“So you gave him access to my company.”
“At first it was just reports.”
“You gave him Lucas’s trust information.”
Peter looked down.
“Yes.”
Arthur walked away.
He couldn’t look at him.
Peter began crying.
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t.”
“Arthur—”
“My wife died. My son was kidnapped. My company is being torn apart. And every time I open another door, somebody I trusted is standing behind it holding a knife.”
Peter lowered his head.
Arthur turned.
“What is Daniel doing Monday?”
Peter wiped his face.
“The board vote.”
“We know.”
“No. It changed.”
Rebecca leaned forward.
“How?”
“Daniel knows Elena turned.”
Arthur stiffened.
“He’s abandoning the original plan.”
“What’s the new one?”
Peter looked terrified.
“He’s going to trigger a liquidity collapse.”
Rebecca’s expression changed.
“Explain.”
“He created automated payments through offshore counterparties. If they execute together, Vance Meridian loses access to almost two hundred million dollars in operating cash.”
Arthur stared.
“That could bankrupt us.”
“Within days.”
Rebecca asked, “Can you stop it?”
Peter shook his head.
“Not from normal systems.”
“Where?”
“The emergency finance server.”
“Location?”
Peter looked at Arthur.
“Sublevel three of headquarters.”
Arthur grabbed his coat.
Peter caught his arm.
“There’s something else.”
Arthur looked down at his hand.
Peter released him.
“Daniel installed a physical fail-safe.”
“What kind?”
“If anyone attempts manual shutdown…”
Peter swallowed.
“…the entire server archive wipes itself.”
Rebecca cursed under her breath.
Arthur looked at Peter.
“You helped install it?”
“Yes.”
“Then you’re coming with us.”
Peter’s face went pale.
“If Daniel sees me—”
Arthur stepped close.
“You helped him build the gun pointed at my son’s future.”
May you like
His voice became ice.
“You’re going to help me unload it.”
