She ended the call.
“What happened?” James asked.
“Adrian knows.”
“How?”
“Board counsel requested preservation of his company devices.”
“Too early?”
“No.”
“He was supposed to be informed tomorrow.”
James frowned.
“Where is he?”
“At headquarters.”
Katherine grabbed her bag.
James caught her arm lightly.
“Don't go alone.”
“I have security.”
“Company security?”
“Yes.”
“Who reports to?”
She stopped.
Adrian approved the security budget.
James saw her realize it.
“I’m coming.”
“No.”
“Katherine.”
“You are a mechanic.”
“You say that like it's contagious.”
“This is a corporate investigation.”
“And you're angry.”
“I handle angry.”
“I noticed.”
She pulled away.
“I'll call Daniel.”
James stared.
Then nodded.
“Call me when you're inside.”
She smiled faintly.
“You're becoming demanding.”
“You like it.”
Unfortunately true.
Adrian Cross was waiting in Katherine’s office when she arrived.
Daniel Cho stood near the windows.
Two outside counsel attorneys sat at the conference table.
A board representative waited beside them.
Security had been reassigned under outside counsel.
Good.
Adrian sat calmly.
Too calmly.
“Katherine.”
She closed the door.
“Adrian.”
He looked toward the others.
“This feels theatrical.”
“You've always hated theater.”
“Your father hated it more.”
Katherine sat.
“Let's not use him tonight.”
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
Daniel placed a folder on table.
“We have identified undisclosed related-party transactions involving entities connected to Mason Cross.”
Adrian barely reacted.
“My cousin has business interests.”
“You certified no conflicts.”
“I divested from Cross Capital years ago.”
Daniel pushed documents forward.
“Beneficial ownership records suggest otherwise.”
Adrian did not touch them.
Katherine watched.
He said:
“What does this have to do with the Ferrari?”
The room went silent.
He realized.
Too late.
Katherine's voice lowered.
“No one mentioned the Ferrari.”
Adrian looked at her.
For the first time since she arrived, control cracked.
Only briefly.
He recovered.
“You told me last week you found the archive through the car.”
“Yes.”
“Obviously related.”
“Then tell me how.”
Adrian sighed.
“Katherine.”
“Tell me.”
He leaned back.
“Your father became paranoid near the end.”
Daniel said:
“Careful.”
Adrian ignored him.
“He believed everyone was stealing from him.”
“He investigated suppliers who had done nothing wrong.”
“He disrupted contracts.”
“He threatened executives.”
Katherine felt anger rise.
“Did he threaten you?”
Adrian looked at her.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I made decisions he didn't like.”
“Did you steal from him?”
“No.”
“Did Mason sabotage the Ferrari?”
“No.”