Adrian thought of Julian.
Of his father.
Of himself.
How many systems depended on people feeling too small to speak?
“You have nothing to apologize for.”
Mia woke.
She rubbed eyes.
Saw Adrian.
“Did your brother wake up?”
Grace looked confused.
Denise looked at Adrian.
“What brother?”
Adrian exhaled.
Long morning.
At 7:35, he returned to Duca Meridian headquarters.
He wore the same suit.
No sleep.
Elena walked beside him.
Two federal agents waited in a private conference room upstairs.
The lead was Special Agent Mara Singh, Financial Crimes and Public Corruption.
The second, Owen Price, specialized in interstate kidnapping and unlawful detention.
They had already spoken briefly with Julian.
Not enough.
Medical restrictions.
But enough to open investigation.
Singh placed a thin folder on table.
“Saint Bartholomew Neurobehavioral Center existed under that name from 2011 to 2017.”
“What happened?”
“Acquired by a chain called Northbridge Recovery.”
“Location?”
“New Hampshire.”
“Licensed?”
“Yes.”
“Clean?”
“No.”
She slid page.
“Three complaints regarding involuntary holds, medication practices, falsified guardianship documents.”
Adrian read.
“Any Daniel Mercer?”
“Not yet.”
“Dr. Kessler?”
“Dr. Howard Kessler served medical director from 2010 to 2018.”
“Current?”
“Private practice in Connecticut.”
“Get him.”
Agent Price replied:
“We don’t ‘get’ people because billionaire asks.”
Adrian looked.
Elena almost smiled.
Price continued:
“We develop probable cause.”
“Good.”
“Then do it fast.”
Price nodded.
“Fair.”
Singh said:
“We also need you to behave normally.”
Adrian laughed once.
“My dead brother is alive.”
“Try anyway.”
“Board meeting?”
“Proceed.”
“Merger?”
“Delay on legitimate corporate grounds.”
“Do not accuse Mercer publicly yet.”
“Why?”
“If he is involved, we want movement.”
“You want him to panic.”
“We want him to reveal what he believes needs hiding.”
Adrian looked at Elena.
She said:
“You can postpone based on material due-diligence issue.”
“What issue?”
“Pension schedules.”
Adrian remembered Daniel’s warning.
Do not reopen pension schedules tonight.
He looked at Singh.
“There may be something in pensions.”
“We’re already looking.”
At 8:03, board assembled.
Daniel Mercer sat in his usual seat to Adrian’s right.
Gray suit.
Blue tie.
Silver hair.
Calm.
When Adrian entered, Daniel stood.
“You look terrible.”
Adrian put briefcase down.
“Thank you.”
“Can we speak privately?”
“After.”
Daniel studied him.
The directors took seats.
Halcyon’s team waited on video.
Adrian did not turn screen on.
He opened binder.
“Meeting is postponed.”
Immediate objections.
Daniel remained quiet.
One director asked:
“On what authority?”
“Mine as CEO pending material due-diligence clarification.”
“Material how?”
“Pension liabilities.”
Daniel turned his head slowly.
Adrian watched.
Another director frowned.