Chapter 2 - The Freezing of the Corporate Accounts
By Monday morning,
the storm had only just begun.
Daniel rushed into his corporate office on the 40th floor.
Overlooking the city skyline.
He tossed his briefcase onto the mahogany desk.
Reached for his phone.
Dialed the corporate finance department.
Get me accounting,
he barked.
A hesitant voice answered.
Mr. Mercer,
we have a major problem.
What kind of problem?
Daniel snapped.
Our operational accounts,
they're frozen.
All of them.
Frozen?
That's impossible.
I am the majority shareholder.
Technically,
the voice stammered,
the primary funding trust
holds the controlling shares.
And the trustee
has exercised her legal right
to suspend all corporate disbursements.
Who is the trustee?
Daniel shouted.
Margaret Mercer.
Your mother-in-law.
The phone dropped from Daniel’s hand.
Clattering against the hardwood floor.
He ran to the executive window.
Staring down at the street below.
Where federal marshals were already walking toward the entrance.
Carrying legal injunctions.
Claire had not just prepared a will.
She had conducted an internal forensic audit
during her final six months in the hospital.
She knew about the offshore accounts.
She knew about Vanessa.
She knew about every single fraudulent transaction
Daniel had executed
hoping to bleed her family's company dry.
The door to his office burst open.
Security guards,
accompanied by Elliot Hayes.
Mr. Mercer,
Elliot announced.
You are hereby suspended
from all executive duties
pending a federal investigation
into corporate embezzlement.
Daniel lunged forward.
You conspired against me!
Elliot stepped aside.
No, Daniel.
You conspired against Claire.
And justice,
May you like
unlike you,
never forgets.
