Chapter 9 - The Man Behind Northgate
Daniel’s investigators identified the SUV through traffic cameras.
It belonged to a private security contractor retained by Northgate Harbor Partners.
Rebecca called an emergency meeting.
“This changes the landscape.”
Daniel paced.
“Northgate was watching my son?”
“We can prove their contractor watched the house. We cannot yet prove who ordered it.”
“Then find out.”
The forensic accountant, Marcus Lee, placed a chart on the table.
“I found Vela.”
Daniel stopped.
Marcus traced the money.
Mercer Maritime sent $12.4 million to Vela Marine Consulting.
Vela sent $11 million to the fake DM Strategic Holdings.
But the money stayed there only nine hours.
Then $10.6 million moved to a Luxembourg vehicle controlled by Northgate.
Daniel stared.
“They sent stolen company money to Northgate and left my name on the middle account.”
“Exactly.”
Rebecca asked, “Why?”
Marcus replied, “Two possibilities. Either payment for something, or a planted trail.”
Daniel knew.
“Both.”
Northgate received money.
Daniel received blame.
“What about the rest?”
“Fees, legal costs and eight hundred thousand to an account controlled by Elliot Crane.”
Vanessa’s lawyer.
Rebecca leaned back.
“That’s ugly.”
Daniel asked, “Who at Northgate received the funds?”
Marcus turned another page.
“Managing partner: Warren Vale.”
Daniel knew the name.
Everyone in maritime finance did.
Warren Vale had spent twenty years buying distressed transportation companies, breaking them apart and selling their assets.
Daniel had refused three offers from him.
His phone rang.
Unknown number.
Daniel answered.
“Daniel Mercer.”
A man chuckled.
“Still refusing to sell?”
Daniel recognized Warren’s voice.
Rebecca immediately began recording.
Daniel placed the phone on speaker.
“Did you pay Julian to frame me?”
Warren laughed.
“You always did skip the appetizers.”
“Stay away from my son.”
“That’s not a business issue.”
“You hired the people watching my house.”
“I hire many people.”
“Why call me?”
“To save you from your pride.”
Daniel looked at Rebecca.
She shook her head: don’t take the bait.
Warren continued.
“Your company is bleeding confidence. Your board is divided. Banks are nervous. You can fight for six months and watch Mercer Maritime lose half its value.”
“Or?”
“Sell.”
“To you.”
“At yesterday’s price.”
“You engineered yesterday.”
“You’ll have to prove that.”
Daniel hated the phrase because Vanessa had used it too.
Prove it.
Warren said, “Sign the transaction. Walk away with your wealth. Keep your family.”
Daniel’s voice turned cold.
“My family is why I won’t.”
Warren paused.
“Claire said something similar.”
Daniel stopped breathing.
“What did you say?”
The line went quiet.
Then Warren said, “You didn’t know?”
Rebecca leaned closer.
Daniel whispered, “Know what?”
“Your first wife met me before she died.”
Daniel stood motionless.
“Why?”
“She wanted to understand what your father had done.”
“What did she learn?”
Warren laughed softly.
“That conversation has always been worth more than your company.”
He hung up.
Daniel immediately called Martin Shaw.
“Did Claire meet Warren Vale?”
Silence.
Then Martin said, “Yes.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“You knew.”
“She made me promise not to tell you unless—”
“Unless another condition occurred?”
“Daniel—”
“What did she discover?”
Martin sighed.
“Claire believed Robert Mercer and Warren Vale had an undisclosed side agreement.”
“What kind?”
“I never saw it.”
“Where is it?”
“She thought your father hid a copy.”
Daniel remembered Robert’s obsession with paper records.
His father had trusted safes more than servers.
The old Mercer family estate outside Charleston remained in a trust.
Daniel had not visited since the funeral.
Martin said, “Claire searched for the agreement.”
“Did she find it?”
“No.”
Daniel looked at Noah’s blue airplane on the table.
Claire had been protecting Noah’s future before anyone knew there was a war coming.
Rebecca asked, “What are you thinking?”
Daniel answered.
“My father kept a private archive in South Carolina.”
“You’re under a court order not to remove Noah from Miami-Dade.”
“I know.”
“And you’re not going alone.”
Daniel nodded.
He had learned at least one lesson.
Then his phone buzzed.
A photograph appeared.
The Mercer estate archive room.
The door stood open.
May you like
Cabinets had been emptied onto the floor.
Someone had gotten there first.
