Chapter 16: The Board

The Granger boardroom was on the fortieth floor, with a table long enough to land a plane on.

Twelve directors sat along it in dark suits.

The oldest, a small white-haired woman with a cane across her knees, sat at the head and did not need a gavel.

Chisolm sat at the other end with the camel-coat lawyer beside him and a new pair of rimless glasses.

His lip had healed to a thin line, and he looked at me once as I came through the door.

I held the green ledger against my chest and took the chair against the wall.

Rhodri sat alone on the long side of the table.

He had chosen a plain gray suit, no vest, and he had not looked at me since the elevator.

That was our arrangement.

"We are here on the petition of Mr. Chisolm," the old woman said.

"He says the grandfather's trust was deceived."

"He says this family's head took a wife on paper, under false pretenses, to qualify for a chair."

"Mr. Chisolm. Make your case."

Chisolm stood and buttoned his jacket.

He was very good.

He spoke for eight minutes in a soft clear voice.

He talked about honor, and the old man's last wish, and a contract that put a price on both.

He held up the leaked first page.

He did not say my name.

"The marriage was rented," he finished. "The chair was bought on those terms."

"The board must decide whether it will seat a man who deceived his own grandfather."

Nobody moved.

Rhodri did not stand.

"Madam Chair," he said, "I'd like Ms. Merrow to answer."

My legs were steady, which surprised me.

I walked down the length of the room and laid the ledger on the table in front of the old woman.

"This was in Augustus Merrow's study safe," I said. "Mr. Chisolm gave it to my father to remind him what he owed."

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