Chapter 9 - The Ghost from Chicago
At 2:00 PM, Avery met Eleanor Price in a private, soundproof dining room on the top floor of the Manhattan Club. Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the silver-haired woman as she carefully reviewed the printed Swiss bank ledger.
Eleanor set the document down, her expression grim. "Twelve million dollars," she said quietly. "Arthur Sterling was stealing directly from our reserve accounts while serving as chairman of the audit committee."
"Julian signed off on the internal compliance waiver," Avery added, pointing to a small line of text near the bottom of the page. "Julian knew about Sterling's theft. He used it to keep Sterling under his total control. Whenever Julian needed a favorable board vote, Sterling delivered it."
Eleanor shook her head in disgust. "This company was being run like a criminal enterprise. I’ve known Arthur Sterling for twenty years. I sat at his daughter's wedding."
"Power corrupts people who don't respect it, Eleanor," Avery said simply. "Sterling is working with Julian on the hostile takeover bid. Apex Holdings is likely funded by Sterling's offshore accounts."
"What is your move, Avery?" Eleanor asked, looking at her with deep respect. "If we expose Sterling publicly right now, our stock price will take another massive hit. The shareholders are already skittish after the gala."
"We don't expose him publicly yet," Avery revealed, leaning forward. "We use this ledger as leverage. Sterling is holding a six percent voting block on the board. If we force him to surrender his shares to the company treasury under threat of immediate criminal prosecution, we neutralize Julian's takeover threat before it even starts."
Eleanor smiled softly, a flicker of pride in her sharp eyes. "You really are remarkable, Avery. Julian thought he was dealing with a frightened operations clerk. He had no idea he was playing chess against a master."
Before Avery could respond, her personal cell phone buzzed on the linen tablecloth. The screen displayed an unknown Chicago phone number.
Avery excused herself and stepped away to answer the call. "Avery Sloan."
"Avery... it's Caroline," a raw, raspy voice said on the line.
Avery stood still in the quiet hallway. Caroline Mercer sounded unrecognizable. Gone was the loud, arrogant tone that had dominated the executive suites. In its place was a fragile, desperate woman.
"Caroline," Avery said coldly. "How did you get this number?"
"It doesn't matter," Caroline stammered, breathing heavily. "Avery... you have to listen to me. Julian has completely lost his mind. He's staying at a hotel in Chicago right now. He's furious about the SEC investigation. He... he blamed me for everything!"
"You threw wine on me and tried to humiliate me in front of three hundred people, Caroline," Avery reminded her without sympathy. "You brought this on yourself."
"I know! I know I was awful to you!" Caroline sobbed hysterically into the phone. "I was terrified, Avery! Julian told me that if I didn't push you out of the company, you would discover the European accounts and we would both go to prison! He manipulated me for ten years!"
Avery listened in cold silence. Caroline was finally experiencing the brutal reality of being discarded by the very monster she had helped protect.
"What do you want, Caroline?" Avery asked flatly.
"Julian has a secret server in Chicago," Caroline confessed, her voice shaking violently. "It contains encrypted files proving that Arthur Sterling, Julian, and two foreign investors systematically siphoned money out of Blackwell for over a decade. Julian is planning to wipe the server tonight and pin all the financial fraud on you and Owen!"
Avery’s eyes narrowed. "Where is the server located?"
"It's in a private storage unit at the Langford Hotel in Chicago," Caroline revealed. "Room 412. The access key code is 8842. Please, Avery... if you get those files, tell the federal prosecutors that I cooperated! Don't let Julian destroy me completely!"
Avery took a deep breath, processing the sudden flood of critical information.
"If you're lying to me, Caroline," Avery warned in a low, dangerous tone, "I will ensure you face maximum charges."
May you like
"I'm not lying! I swear on my life!" Caroline wept.
Avery ended the call and turned back to Eleanor. The battle for Blackwell Group was moving faster than anyone had anticipated. She needed to get to Chicago immediately.
