Marwood Capital sent three people to the emergency conference.<\/p>\n
Celia Ward came first.<\/p>\n
She wore the same gray suit beneath a different coat and looked completely unembarrassed about being discovered at my lake house the previous afternoon.<\/p>\n
Two men followed.<\/p>\n
One introduced himself as Thomas Keene, Marwood\u2019s managing director.<\/p>\n
The other, Victor Shaw, handled private credit.<\/p>\n
No relation to Evelyn.<\/p>\n
We met at Nina\u2019s office at eight-thirty in the morning.<\/p>\n
Samuel Hart joined by video.<\/p>\n
Omar sat beside three monitors.<\/p>\n
I sat at the head of the table because Nina insisted.<\/p>\n
I did not argue.<\/p>\n
Thomas Keene was in his early sixties, silver-haired, calm, with the practiced politeness of a man accustomed to discussing large amounts of money without ever raising his voice.<\/p>\n
He looked directly at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cMs. Morgan, we understand there has been confusion.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
His eyebrows lifted.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere has been deception. We\u2019re here to determine whose.\u201d<\/p>\n
Celia\u2019s expression tightened slightly.<\/p>\n
Thomas nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cFair distinction.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nina began.<\/p>\n
\u201cMarwood lent nine million dollars to Prescott Capital Partners based partly on anticipated proceeds from a sale of Prescott Logistics.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou were also involved in financing that proposed acquisition.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCorrect.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid Marwood know Claire Morgan owned fifty-one percent?\u201d<\/p>\n
Thomas looked toward Victor.<\/p>\n
Victor opened a folder.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe reviewed a capitalization table.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhich one?\u201d<\/p>\n
He slid a copy across the table.<\/p>\n
I looked at it.<\/p>\n
Claire Morgan: 51%.<\/p>\n
Daniel Prescott: 39%.<\/p>\n
Employee Trust: 10%.<\/p>\n
Correct.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo you knew.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen why did you lend Daniel nine million dollars against transaction proceeds he could not control?\u201d<\/p>\n
Victor answered.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were informed that restructuring consents had been obtained.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you verify that with me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe documentation appeared facially valid.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at Celia.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou are an attorney.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou accepted a document reducing the rights of a fifty-one-percent shareholder without speaking to that shareholder.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe structure came through transaction counsel.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhich transaction counsel?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAndrew Bell coordinated delivery.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nina leaned forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cAndrew is not an attorney.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m aware.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho certified authenticity?\u201d<\/p>\n
Celia opened another file.<\/p>\n
\u201cDaniel Prescott and Bell Advisory.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was enough?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFor preliminary lending purposes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Samuel spoke from the screen.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot if the trust schedule was material.\u201d<\/p>\n
Celia looked toward him.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the time, we had no verified trust schedule.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou had notice there might be one.\u201d<\/p>\n
Silence.<\/p>\n
Samuel continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour counsel came to Claire\u2019s private residence looking for it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Celia\u2019s jaw tightened.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat occurred after concerns were raised.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cConcerns raised by whom?\u201d<\/p>\n
She did not answer immediately.<\/p>\n
Thomas Keene stepped in.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s avoid turning this into accusation.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are discussing forged signatures, hidden trust protections, a nine-million-dollar loan, and a secret sale of my company. Accusation is not the problem.\u201d<\/p>\n
He gave a small nod.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnderstood.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nina asked, \u201cWhen did Marwood first learn there could be trust restrictions?\u201d<\/p>\n
Victor checked his notes.<\/p>\n
\u201cApproximately six weeks ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
That aligned with Simon\u2019s emails.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you still funded Daniel\u2019s loan?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe facility had already been committed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen was cash released?\u201d<\/p>\n
Victor hesitated.<\/p>\n
\u201cFive weeks ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at Nina.<\/p>\n
They knew.<\/p>\n
Maybe not everything.<\/p>\n
But they knew enough to ask questions and released money anyway.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
Thomas answered.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause we received assurances the trust issue was immaterial.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom Daniel?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSimon?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAndrew?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIndependent counsel?\u201d<\/p>\n
Celia said, \u201cNot directly.\u201d<\/p>\n
That mattered.<\/p>\n
Nina asked, \u201cDid any attorney representing Claire provide confirmation?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAny independent trustee?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAny representative of the employee trust?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo Marwood accepted assurances from the borrower and transaction promoters.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thomas\u2019 expression cooled.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is a characterization.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a factual one.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nobody contradicted her.<\/p>\n
Omar displayed the default documents.<\/p>\n
\u201cMarwood\u2019s loan provides accelerated remedies if the transaction fails because Daniel misrepresented control.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d Victor said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHave you accelerated?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot yet.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy not?\u201d<\/p>\n
Thomas said, \u201cWe\u2019re assessing facts.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happens if you do?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe pursue available remedies.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDaniel\u2019s shares?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPotentially.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPrescott Logistics assets?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
The speed of the answer made me suspicious.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy no?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause the borrower does not own corporate assets.\u201d<\/p>\n
At least someone understood that.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat about North Harbor Equity?\u201d<\/p>\n
Thomas paused.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat about them?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf Project Northstar fails, does North Harbor disappear?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is their decision.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you an investor in North Harbor?\u201d<\/p>\n
Marwood\u2019s team exchanged glances.<\/p>\n
Small.<\/p>\n
But visible.<\/p>\n
Nina caught it.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo you are.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thomas replied carefully.<\/p>\n
\u201cMarwood-managed funds have exposure to North Harbor.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow much?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is confidential.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEnough that buying Prescott Logistics matters.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
The structure became clearer.<\/p>\n
Marwood lent Daniel money.<\/p>\n
Marwood financed the buyer.<\/p>\n
Marwood funds had exposure to that buyer.<\/p>\n
Marwood had downside rights if Daniel defaulted.<\/p>\n
Every path ran through them.<\/p>\n
I asked, \u201cIf the sale succeeded, Marwood earned interest and financing fees.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf Daniel defaulted, you could pursue his shares.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf Prescott Logistics became distressed because of ownership conflict, would North Harbor attempt a lower-priced acquisition?\u201d<\/p>\n
Thomas\u2019 expression changed almost imperceptibly.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe do not speculate about hypothetical future transactions.\u201d<\/p>\n
That was not a denial.<\/p>\n
Nina said, \u201cDo you have contingency materials?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo comment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Omar spoke.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe found references to Project Harborfall.\u201d<\/p>\n
Celia turned toward him sharply.<\/p>\n
Thomas looked genuinely surprised.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere did you get that name?\u201d<\/p>\n
Omar did not answer the question.<\/p>\n
\u201cDoes it exist?\u201d<\/p>\n
Thomas leaned back.<\/p>\n
\u201cMarwood internal material is confidential.\u201d<\/p>\n
I felt a cold understanding forming.<\/p>\n
\u201cProject Northstar was the forty-two-million-dollar sale.\u201d<\/p>\n
No one spoke.<\/p>\n
\u201cHarborfall is what happens if Northstar fails.\u201d<\/p>\n
Still nothing.<\/p>\n
I looked at Celia.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou were at my lake house yesterday because you needed the trust documents for Harborfall too.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her eyes narrowed.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Finally.<\/p>\n
A direct denial.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen what is Harborfall?\u201d<\/p>\n
She said nothing.<\/p>\n
Nina pushed.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf the project is unrelated, say so.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thomas intervened.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are not here to disclose proprietary strategies.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen we\u2019ll subpoena them if necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n
The room chilled.<\/p>\n
Thomas looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cMs. Morgan, Marwood is not your enemy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat depends on what Harborfall says.\u201d<\/p>\n
He held my gaze.<\/p>\n
Then looked toward Celia.<\/p>\n
She opened a separate folder.<\/p>\n
Thomas spoke carefully.<\/p>\n
\u201cHarborfall was a contingency analysis.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFor what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTransaction failure.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did it analyze?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPotential outcomes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhich outcomes?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDaniel defaulting. Ownership litigation. Company instability.\u201d<\/p>\n
My jaw tightened.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd acquisition?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAt what valuation?\u201d<\/p>\n
Thomas did not answer.<\/p>\n
\u201cShow me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Celia said, \u201cWe are not required\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
Thomas lifted a hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cShow her.\u201d<\/p>\n
She looked unhappy.<\/p>\n
Still, she removed a document.<\/p>\n
The title read:<\/p>\n
PROJECT HARBORFALL \u2014 DISTRESSED CONTROL SCENARIO.<\/p>\n
The valuation range made my stomach turn.<\/p>\n
Twenty-four to twenty-eight million dollars.<\/p>\n
Fourteen to eighteen million less than Northstar.<\/p>\n
I looked at Thomas.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo if Daniel\u2019s sale collapsed and the company became unstable, Marwood\u2019s affiliated buyer might acquire Prescott Logistics much more cheaply.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is one modeled scenario.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou financed the risk that could create the discount.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is not accurate.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou lent Daniel nine million dollars knowing he needed a sale he did not control.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe believed consents existed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou knew the trust could invalidate them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had assurances.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom the man borrowing the money.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thomas\u2019 composure thinned.<\/p>\n
\u201cMarwood does not create borrower fraud.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. But sophisticated lenders recognize convenient blindness.\u201d<\/p>\n
Celia said, \u201cThat is inappropriate.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo was entering my house to find trust documents.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou invited law enforcement into a civil situation.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou entered private property during an active financial dispute.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI stayed outside initially.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen you entered.\u201d<\/p>\n
She had no answer.<\/p>\n
Nina took over.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnder Harborfall, what happens to Daniel\u2019s thirty-nine percent?\u201d<\/p>\n
Victor answered reluctantly.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf Marwood enforces and obtains rights to the collateral, those rights could be sold or transferred.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTo North Harbor?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPotentially.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd the employee trust?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo direct effect.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cClaire\u2019s fifty-one percent?\u201d<\/p>\n
Thomas said, \u201cHarborfall assumed ongoing litigation could impair practical control.\u201d<\/p>\n
There it was.<\/p>\n
Not legal ownership.<\/p>\n
Practical control.<\/p>\n
Chaos.<\/p>\n
Lawsuits.<\/p>\n
Debt.<\/p>\n
Management conflict.<\/p>\n
Make the company messy enough, and the controlling owner might accept less.<\/p>\n
I had seen similar tactics in distressed businesses.<\/p>\n
Not illegal by themselves.<\/p>\n
But brutal.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did Daniel know about Harborfall?\u201d<\/p>\n
Silence.<\/p>\n
I asked again.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did he know?\u201d<\/p>\n
Thomas looked toward Victor.<\/p>\n
Victor looked down.<\/p>\n
Celia said, \u201cCommunications with a borrower are subject to confidentiality.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat means he knew.\u201d<\/p>\n
No one corrected me.<\/p>\n
The betrayal widened again.<\/p>\n
Daniel may have believed Marwood was saving him.<\/p>\n
Or he may have known they had a second path.<\/p>\n
Either possibility was terrible.<\/p>\n
Nina asked Omar to display an email recovered from Daniel\u2019s account the previous night.<\/p>\n
Daniel to Andrew:<\/p>\n
Marwood keeps talking about downside protection. I don\u2019t like it.<\/p>\n
Andrew:<\/p>\n
Doesn\u2019t matter if we close.<\/p>\n
Daniel:<\/p>\n
If Claire blocks?<\/p>\n
Andrew:<\/p>\n
She won\u2019t.<\/p>\n
Daniel:<\/p>\n
And if she does?<\/p>\n
Andrew:<\/p>\n
Then we deal with the consequences.<\/p>\n
I stared at the screen.<\/p>\n
Daniel had asked.<\/p>\n
He knew there was a downside path.<\/p>\n
Maybe not its full shape.<\/p>\n
But he knew.<\/p>\n
Thomas read the email.<\/p>\n
His expression remained neutral.<\/p>\n
I asked, \u201cDid Marwood show Daniel Harborfall?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you tell him default could put his shares at risk?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you tell him an affiliated buyer might benefit if the company became distressed?\u201d<\/p>\n
Thomas paused.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot in those terms.\u201d<\/p>\n
Of course.<\/p>\n
Nobody said the ugly thing directly when euphemisms were available.<\/p>\n
Samuel spoke from the screen.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is another issue.\u201d<\/p>\n
Everyone looked toward him.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Morgan trust provisions may restrict transfer of any shares obtained through enforcement if that transfer is part of a coordinated attempt to circumvent Claire\u2019s protected control.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thomas frowned.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is unusually broad.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMy client\u2019s father was unusually cautious.\u201d<\/p>\n
I almost smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat does that mean for Harborfall?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n
Samuel replied, \u201cIt may not work the way they modeled.\u201d<\/p>\n
For the first time, Thomas looked annoyed.<\/p>\n
\u201cMay?\u201d<\/p>\n
Samuel nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cI need full loan documents and all intercreditor agreements.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marwood\u2019s attorneys immediately objected.<\/p>\n
The room descended into controlled argument.<\/p>\n
Disclosure.<\/p>\n
Privilege.<\/p>\n
Confidentiality.<\/p>\n
Trust rights.<\/p>\n
Potential litigation.<\/p>\n
I stopped listening for a moment.<\/p>\n
Because Omar had sent me a private message.<\/p>\n
One line.<\/p>\n
Found payment from Marwood affiliate to Bell Advisory.<\/p>\n
I read it twice.<\/p>\n
Then looked at Andrew\u2019s role with new eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow much?\u201d I asked aloud.<\/p>\n
Omar answered.<\/p>\n
\u201cThree hundred thousand dollars.\u201d<\/p>\n
The room stopped.<\/p>\n
Thomas turned toward Victor.<\/p>\n
Celia looked genuinely surprised.<\/p>\n
I asked, \u201cFor what?\u201d<\/p>\n
Omar opened the record.<\/p>\n
\u201cTransaction sourcing fee.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared at Marwood\u2019s team.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou paid Andrew.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thomas said, \u201cNorth Harbor may have paid a sourcing fee.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMarwood affiliate.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI need to verify.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAndrew was being paid by Daniel\u2019s company and by your side.\u201d<\/p>\n
No one answered.<\/p>\n
That was an obvious conflict.<\/p>\n
Possibly worse.<\/p>\n
Andrew had advised Daniel.<\/p>\n
Processed documents.<\/p>\n
Helped structure payments.<\/p>\n
Participated in forged authorizations.<\/p>\n
Then received money from parties benefiting from the sale.<\/p>\n
I asked, \u201cDid Daniel know?\u201d<\/p>\n
Thomas said, \u201cI cannot say.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nina looked at Omar.<\/p>\n
\u201cAny email?\u201d<\/p>\n
He searched.<\/p>\n
Thirty seconds later, one appeared.<\/p>\n
Andrew to Marwood affiliate:<\/p>\n
My fee remains protected if transaction shifts from Northstar to alternative structure?<\/p>\n
Response:<\/p>\n
Subject to closing event, including distressed acquisition.<\/p>\n
The room became silent.<\/p>\n
Andrew got paid either way.<\/p>\n
If Daniel\u2019s forty-two-million-dollar sale succeeded, Andrew got paid.<\/p>\n
If the company fell into enough distress to sell cheaper, Andrew still got paid.<\/p>\n
Suddenly, Andrew\u2019s behavior at the lake house looked different.<\/p>\n
He was not merely Daniel\u2019s loyal friend.<\/p>\n
He had his own financial interest in finding the trust.<\/p>\n
I looked at Thomas.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid Marwood know Andrew was telling Daniel he worked for him?\u201d<\/p>\n
Thomas did not answer.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid Marwood know Andrew was modifying documents bearing my signature?\u201d<\/p>\n
Celia said, \u201cAbsolutely not.\u201d<\/p>\n
That answer sounded real.<\/p>\n
Good.<\/p>\n
One boundary, at least.<\/p>\n
I turned toward Nina.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need Andrew\u2019s complete financial records.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll pursue them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Celia closed her folder.<\/p>\n
\u201cMarwood will cooperate within legal requirements.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cStart with Harborfall.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thomas nodded reluctantly.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll provide relevant portions under confidentiality.\u201d<\/p>\n
The meeting ended after noon.<\/p>\n
Marwood left with fewer secrets than they arrived with.<\/p>\n
But not none.<\/p>\n
As the door closed, Nina looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cAndrew is more important than we thought.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Omar turned his monitor.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s more.\u201d<\/p>\n
Of course there was.<\/p>\n
He showed us another payment.<\/p>\n
One hundred thousand dollars.<\/p>\n
Bell Advisory to an account held by someone named Laura Price.<\/p>\n
I did not recognize the name.<\/p>\n
Nina searched corporate records.<\/p>\n
Then stopped.<\/p>\n
\u201cLaura Price worked at Prescott Logistics.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEight years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat department?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLegal administration.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marcus, who had joined remotely, heard the name.<\/p>\n
His face changed.<\/p>\n
\u201cI remember Laura.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did she do?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe maintained original corporate files.\u201d<\/p>\n
My pulse quickened.<\/p>\n
\u201cOriginal shareholder documents?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTrust summaries?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPossibly.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy did she leave?\u201d<\/p>\n
Marcus hesitated.<\/p>\n
\u201cDaniel fired her.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe said she copied confidential files.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared at the payment.<\/p>\n
Andrew had sent one hundred thousand dollars to a former employee who once handled original corporate records.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n
Omar answered.<\/p>\n
\u201cThree months ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
The same month Daniel began meeting divorce lawyers.<\/p>\n
The same period Project Northstar accelerated.<\/p>\n
Nina looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need Laura.\u201d<\/p>\n
Omar was already searching.<\/p>\n
He found an address in Ohio.<\/p>\n
Then a newer record.<\/p>\n
Laura Price had moved.<\/p>\n
Not Ohio.<\/p>\n
She was living less than twenty miles from Prescott Logistics headquarters.<\/p>\n
And two days earlier, she had emailed Daniel directly.<\/p>\n
The subject line contained only three words.<\/p>\n
I kept copies.<\/p>\n
Marwood Capital sent three people to the emergency conference. Celia Ward came first. She wore the same gray suit beneath a different coat and looked completely unembarrassed about being discovered … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8191,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8202","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chapter-story"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thechapterstory.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8202","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thechapterstory.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thechapterstory.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thechapterstory.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thechapterstory.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8202"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/thechapterstory.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8202\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8242,"href":"https:\/\/thechapterstory.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8202\/revisions\/8242"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thechapterstory.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/8191"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thechapterstory.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8202"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thechapterstory.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8202"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thechapterstory.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8202"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}