Chapter 8: What Was Happening in Milwaukee
Gerald answered on the second ring.
"I was about to call you," he said.
"The Milwaukee plant," Jonathan said.
"Tell me."
A pause that lasted one second too long.
"How did you—"
"Someone sent me a message.
Anonymous.
They said to ask you about the plant and about who else has been talking to Raymond."
Gerald exhaled.
"I found out this afternoon.
I was waiting until morning because I didn't want to—"
"Gerald.
Tell me now."
"There's a man named Dennis Carr.
He's been your operations director in Milwaukee for six years.
According to what Raymond told the investigators this afternoon — apparently he gave a second statement this evening, more detailed than the first — Dennis Carr has been in contact with Victoria for approximately eight months."
Jonathan said nothing.
"Raymond says Carr was feeding Victoria information about the plant's financials.
Inventory valuations, contract details, the pension fund structure.
Raymond believes Carr was preparing a case for Victoria to contest the plant's valuation after your d\*ath — to argue that it was worth less than the estate records showed, which would have reduced the taxable value and made the transfer to her cleaner."
"Dennis Carr," Jonathan said slowly.
"He's been with me since 2018."
"I know."
"His daughter was in my wife's book club."
"I know that too."
Jonathan stood up from the bed.
His legs held.
He walked to the window and looked down at the city.
"Is there evidence?" he said.
"Raymond has emails.
Apparently he was copied on several of the exchanges because Victoria wanted him to understand the full picture of what they were acquiring." Gerald's voice was careful.
"Jonathan, the investigators already have them.
Detective Reyes called me forty minutes ago.
They're looking at Carr tonight."
"He has four hundred people working under him."
"I know."
"If this goes public before we manage it, the plant will—"
"I know." Gerald's voice was steady.
"That is why I have already contacted your CFO, Margaret Osei.
She is aware of the situation.
She is not aware of the full scope yet, but she knows there may be a personnel issue at the senior level and that she should be prepared to step into an interim operations role if necessary."
Jonathan turned from the window.
"You called Margaret before you called me."
"I called Margaret to protect four hundred jobs while you were resting.
I was going to call you at seven a.m.
with a full briefing." A pause.
"I apologize for the sequence."
Jonathan almost said something sharp.
He stopped himself.
"No," he said.
"You were right.
That was the right call."
"Thank you."
"What else?"
"That's everything I have tonight." Gerald paused.
"Jonathan.
You need to sleep.
The cardiologist was very clear.
The dig0xin is still in your system, and stress accelerates—"
"I know what it accelerates."
"Then sleep.
I will be there at seven with everything."
Jonathan ended the call.
He stood at the window for another minute, looking at the lights.
Dennis Carr.
Six years.
The man had sat across from Jonathan at the plant's annual review dinner every December.
He had given a toast at Jonathan's wedding to Victoria — a warm, well-crafted toast that had made people laugh.
Jonathan thought about that toast now and understood, with a cold clarity, that he had been surrounded by a performance he had never once suspected.
He got back into bed.
He turned off the lamp.
The heart monitor tapped its steady rhythm in the dark.
Sleep did not come quickly.
But it came.
And when Detective Reyes called at six forty-seven the next morning, Jonathan was already awake, dressed in the fresh clothes Gerald had sent over, and seated in the chair by the window with his phone in his hand.
"They've filed the charges," Reyes said.
"Victoria Mercer — attempted murd3r, financial fraud, and two counts of forgery.
Arraignment is set for tomorrow morning."
"And Carr?"
A brief pause.
"Dennis Carr was taken in for questioning at eleven p.m.
last night.
As of an hour ago, he has retained an attorney and is cooperating." Another pause.
"Mr.
Mercer, I think you should know — Carr asked to speak with you directly.
He says there's something he needs to tell you that isn't in any of the emails."
Jonathan looked at the window.
May you like
Morning light was just beginning to come through.
"Set it up," he said.
