“Chairman because he asked this morning.”
The CEO’s hand tightened around the phone.
“He asked?”
“Yes.”
“He said he wanted to make sure you’d reach the meeting.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I thought it was normal.”
The CEO looked out.
“I did too.”
The assistant continued:
“There’s more.”
“What?”
“The security chief came to your office at 1:40.”
“You were already gone.”
“He looked upset.”
“He asked if I had sent your route to anyone.”
“What did you say?”
“The chairman.”
“What did he do?”
“He swore.”
The CEO’s heart accelerated.
“Then?”
“He left.”
“That was the last time I saw him.”
“Find him.”
“I’ve tried.”
“His company phone stopped transmitting at 2:03.”
The CEO’s face went cold.
The single father said:
“What?”
She held up a hand.
“Call my outside attorney.”
“Do not use internal legal.”
“Do not send anything to corporate security.”
The assistant hesitated.
“Are you safe?”
“For now.”
“Where?”
The CEO looked at the father again.
“Not on my filed route.”
She ended the call.
The tow truck cab felt smaller.
The father asked:
“Your security chief missing?”
“His phone is.”
“That’s not same.”
“No.”
She looked at him.
“My chairman asked for my route this morning.”
The father’s jaw tightened.
“Before the car stopped.”
“Yes.”
“He knew the board meeting could happen without you?”
“Yes.”
“What happens if you miss?”
“Technically nothing irreversible.”
“Practically?”
“A vote authorizing exclusive negotiations.”
“Once signed, backing out could cost hundreds of millions and trigger litigation.”
“So somebody needs you absent.”
“Yes.”
The father looked ahead.
“Then maybe your car did exactly what somebody wanted.”
At 3:27, the board convened.
The CEO joined by phone from the tow truck despite the chairman’s objection.
“Connection is not secure.”
“My outside counsel is physically present.”
“That does not solve identity.”
The CEO switched to video.
Her face appeared on the meeting screen from inside a sun-faded tow truck.
Several directors stared.
One almost smiled.
The chairman did not.
The CEO said:
“Can everyone see me?”
“Yes.”
“Can everyone hear me?”
“Yes.”
“Then my identity is established.”