Chapter 17: Keep It

The board chair called a special session for nine the next morning.

He did it by email at one in the morning, to all five directors, with Wyatt copied.

Subject line: Validity of Section 9.4. Attendance required.

I wore the blue dress again. Marit had pressed it herself and made me eat two eggs first.

Our lawyer met me in the lobby of Haldorsen Freight with a banker's box under one arm.

"A dozen pages in the agreement," she said. "Section fourteen says every page must be signed and witnessed or it has no force."

"And page nine has no witness."

"It has a signature and a typed clause that you were never told to read." She smiled. "I'd call that a very good morning."

We rode the elevator up in silence.

The boardroom was full. Five directors sat at the walnut table. The chair sat at the head with a brown folder in front of him.

Wyatt was at his right, in a fresh suit and a pale blue tie.

He rose when I came in. It was a courtesy he had always done for me, and I hated that I noticed.

"Nina."

"Wyatt."

"Please. Sit down."

The chair waited until I had taken my seat and then opened the folder.

"I have the original shareholder agreement here," he said. "Nine years ago I was asked to witness page nine."

"I remember that," Wyatt said smoothly. "You were ill."

"I had a kidney stone and went home. Your counsel told me they would sort it out." The chair turned the page to face the room. "Nobody ever did."

A director leaned forward to look.

"The witness line is empty," the chair said. "Under Section Fourteen that page is void, and so is the clause that froze Ms. Haldorsen's vote."

Wyatt did not move.

"It was an oversight," he said. "An honest one. I'll have it corrected."

"By whom?" the chair asked. "Everyone who could witness it is in this room."

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