Chapter 5: The Name on the Screen
The name on Daniel's monitor was Warren Perkinson.
Nora knew that name because Warren Perkinson had tried to buy her company three years ago.
He had sent two representatives to her Phoenix office with a written offer — $8 million for full acquisition of Preston Distribution, including the Nevada and New Mexico branches.
She had declined.
He had sent a second offer at $9.5 million.
She had declined again.
After the third meeting, in which his representatives had suggested that operating independently in her market segment was becoming increasingly difficult for a company her size, she had asked them to leave her building.
Six months later, two of her largest wholesale contracts had quietly moved to a competitor.
She had never been able to prove it was coordinated.
"Heather is his daughter," Nora said.
"His youngest.
Twenty-six years old.
She's been living in Scottsdale for the past eighteen months." Daniel folded his hands on the desk.
"Edgar's relationship with her began approximately two months after Perkinson's third acquisition offer."
Nora looked at the screen.
Then at Daniel.
"You think this was arranged."
"I think the timing is worth examining carefully." He leaned back.
"A man tries three times to buy your company.
You refuse.
Six months later your largest contracts migrate.
Two years later his daughter is pregnant by your husband and your mother-in-law has placed a dangerous animal in your bed the same week a $25 million life insurance policy was taken out naming your husband as sole beneficiary."
The room was very quiet.
"Edgar," Nora said slowly, "is not a complicated man.
He's not someone who thinks three moves ahead."
"No," Daniel agreed.
"But Warren Perkinson is."
She stood up and walked to the window.
Fourteen floors below, the city moved without knowing any of this was happening.
"If I d:i:e," she said, "Edgar inherits $25 million and a grief settlement.
Heather becomes his wife.
Her father gains access to my estate and potentially my company through Edgar, who has no idea how to run it and would need guidance." She turned around.
"He would sell it.
To Perkinson.
For whatever Perkinson offered."
"That is one reading of the situation," Daniel said carefully.
"Is there another reading?"
He said nothing.
Nora came back to the chair and sat down.
"What do we do?"
"First, we change the beneficiary on the insurance policy today.
I have the paperwork ready.
You'll name a trust instead of Edgar directly." He slid a folder across the desk.
"Second, I've already contacted a colleague who handles criminal matters.
His name is Roy Castillo.
He'll want to see the camera footage and he'll want to speak with you about what you heard through the door."
"When?"
"Tomorrow morning, if you're willing."
"I'm willing." She opened the folder.
"What about Edgar?
Is he part of this?"
"I don't know yet," Daniel said.
"And I think that's the most important question we need to answer before we decide how hard to push."
Nora signed the first page of the beneficiary change without looking up.
"Find out," she said.
"Find out exactly what Edgar knew and when he knew it.
Because if he knew about the snake—"
"Then his exposure is criminal as well as civil."
"And if he didn't know?"
Daniel considered this.
"Then he's a weak man who was used by people smarter than him.
Which is a different problem."
Nora signed the last page and closed the folder.
Her phone buzzed on the desk between them.
She looked at the screen.
It was a text from a number she didn't recognize.
*You should know that Edgar didn't know about the snake.
But he knew about everything else.
I can prove it.
— H*
She turned the phone so Daniel could read it.
He read it.
May you like
Then he looked up at her.
"Heather Perkinson," Nora said quietly, "just became the most interesting person in this story."
