Chapter 6 - Lily Heard a Number
Samuel Voss arrived at the mansion before sunrise.
He had been Grant’s father’s attorney for thirty-one years and possessed the personality of an expensive locked safe.
Grant handed him the succession agreement.
“Tell me exactly what Carter gets.”
Voss read.
Then removed his glasses.
“Temporary executive authority over Blackwood Holdings if you remain medically incapacitated through the one-hundred-eightieth consecutive day.”
“Temporary?”
“Initially. But significant.”
“Can he sell companies?”
“Subject to board approval.”
“Borrow?”
“Yes.”
“Change management?”
“Yes.”
“Access trust-controlled accounts?”
“Limited access.”
Grant leaned back.
“And what prevents the transfer?”
“Medical certification of competency combined with personal appearance before the emergency board.”
Owen spoke from the corner.
“I can certify him.”
Voss looked at the doctor.
“You poisoned him.”
Owen’s jaw tightened.
“Under coercion.”
“Courts enjoy details like that.”
Grant interrupted.
“We’ll handle Owen later. What matters is the clause.”
Voss turned back.
“If Grant appears capable of resuming command before the deadline, Carter receives nothing.”
Lily was coloring on the rug nearby.
She suddenly looked up.
“One-eight-zero.”
Every adult turned.
Claire frowned.
“What, sweetheart?”
“The mean man says that number.”
Grant’s expression sharpened.
“What mean man?”
“Mr. Carter.”
“When?”
Lily shrugged.
“When Doctor Owen was crying.”
The room went completely still.
Grant lowered his voice.
“Tell me exactly what you heard.”
Lily concentrated.
“Mr. Carter said, ‘He only has to stay in the chair until one-eight-zero.’ Then Doctor Owen said, ‘Please don’t hurt them.’”
Owen closed his eyes.
Claire pulled Lily closer.
Grant’s gaze hardened.
A four-year-old child had unknowingly heard the architecture of the entire conspiracy.
“Anything else?”
Lily hesitated.
“He said after that, the house would be his.”
Voss looked at Grant.
“Technically inaccurate.”
Dominic almost laughed.
Grant did not.
Because Carter apparently believed something about the mansion too.
Something not explained by the corporate succession agreement.
Grant looked toward Vanessa.
“Ashcroft Meridian.”
She nodded.
“You think it connects?”
“I think Carter believes day 180 gives him more than corporate authority.”
Voss gathered the documents.
“Then we need your father’s complete estate file.”
Grant looked at the clock.
Seven days remained.
The race was no longer only about walking.
May you like
Somewhere inside the old Blackwood estate papers was another reason Carter needed Grant incapacitated.
And Grant intended to find it before Carter did.
