He Declared Me Dead on Tuesday, So I Walked Into Court on Friday novel · Chapter 20 of 24

Chapter 20: His Emergency Became a Transfer Order

On Monday afternoon, I place the certified schedule in the judge's hands.

The clerk passes a copy back to Camille, two rows behind Adrian, because her statement is in the file now.

Adrian turns in his chair and catches her wrist before she can turn the first page.

"Please don't read from an incomplete document," Adrian says.

His voice stays smooth.

His fingers tighten around her wrist.

Camille looks down at his hand, then at his face.

"You said it was only a schedule."

"It is. A contingency schedule. Nothing more."

I say nothing.

The judge takes the pages from me and checks the certification stamp.

The board chair's representative leans forward.

The clerk lifts her pen.

Adrian releases Camille and adjusts his cuff.

The silver watch on his left wrist catches the courtroom light.

The judge turns the first page.

"Dr. Mercer, did you obtain this from the company records?"

"It was delivered under the court's production order. The certification is from the records custodian."

"And you are asking me to consider it with the emergency motion?"

"I am asking you to read it."

The judge does.

The room settles around the paper.

Camille sits alone in her row in a cream dress, her hands folded over her stomach.

Adrian's attorney rises.

"Your Honor, this is being presented without context. Internal planning documents often use provisional dates."

"It would be improper to treat every draft instruction as an operative command."

"Then your client can provide the context," the judge says.

Adrian gives his attorney a brief look.

The attorney sits.

The judge raises the first page.

"Mr. Mercer, is this your signature?"

Adrian stands.

"The signature appears to be mine."

"That is not what I asked."

He hesitates.

The judge notices.

"Yes," Adrian says.

"It is mine."

The judge looks at the date beneath it.

"Tuesday morning."

"It was prepared as a precaution. My wife was missing. The company needed stability."

"Your emergency petition is dated Wednesday."

"Correct."

"Your petition states that you sought temporary voting control after receiving confirmation of your wife's death."

Adrian places both hands on the table.

"That was the position at the time of filing."

"The schedule predates the filing because I was trying to protect the company from a leadership vacuum."

The board representative shifts one page closer to herself.

"The first instruction reads: Transfer interim authority to Adrian Mercer upon confirmation of Lena Mercer's death."

"Yes," Adrian says.

"Upon confirmation."

The representative continues reading.

"The second reads: Prepare bank access, internal credentials, and voting materials for immediate release."

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