Chapter 11 - I tried to become my father
When I understood the Falcon connection, something ugly surfaced.
My father’s way of solving problems.
Call people.
Apply pressure.
Secure records.
Move before anyone else can.
I told Daniel:
“Send a team to Victor’s Family Office archive.”
Rebecca Sloan said:
“No.”
“It’s Mercer property.”
“Not all of it is yours.”
“I own controlling interests.”
“You do not own privilege rules, personal devices, or independent entities because you are angry.”
“Victor will destroy things.”
“Then we seek preservation orders.”
“That takes time.”
“So did becoming legitimate.”
I stared at her.
Low blow.
Correct.
I called Marcus Dwyer, head of a private investigations firm I had used during corporate cleanup years earlier.
Then stopped before the call connected.
Elena was standing near the window.
“Who?”
“Nobody.”
“You were going to do something stupid.”
I looked at her.
“You’ve known me four days.”
“Genevieve described you.”
“What did she say?”
“That when scared, you become efficient enough to frighten everyone.”
That sounded exactly like Genevieve.
I put the phone down.
Instead:
Preservation letters.
Emergency court filings where appropriate.
Government environmental investigators.
Subpoenas later.
Board document holds.
Outside forensic review.
Slow.
Frustrating.
Credible.
Victor’s personal lawyer called me.
“Lawson, you’re making family disagreements look criminal.”
I answered:
“No. I’m letting people with authority decide what they look like.”
Then hung up.
May you like
That was the first time in my life I understood reform was not selling criminal businesses.
It was refusing criminal instincts when righteousness made them attractive.
