PART 11: THE SECONDARY CONTRACT
PART 11: THE SECONDARY CONTRACT
Two weeks later, the crisp autumn breeze in Charlotte had turned into a deep, biting winter cold.
I stood inside the open office window of the Maple Grove school district, watching the secretary type smoothly on her keyboard.
The old smell of hot printer toner was entirely gone, replaced by the fresh, clean scent of the open garden air.
Marcus Bell walked into the room, holding a secondary leather-bound portfolio.
"We have a problem with the northern baseline structure, Mr. Bennett," he said, his face unusually grim.
"The construction company?"
"The firm we contracted to build the new community park," Marcus said, opening the portfolio to reveal a series of corporate card logs. "They were bought out last night by a shell company registered in Delaware."
I looked at the routing numbers.
The prefix was identical to the one Victoria Ashford had used to finance her extortion attempt in Wilmington.
"The Ashfords didn't act alone, Marcus," I said, my pulse hammering against my ribs.
"No, sir," Marcus whispered. "The Delaware corporation is owned by your ex-wife's family. The Carters."
I stood up, adjusting the cuffs of my suit jacket.
Emma Carter.
The woman who had divorced me while eight months pregnant, walking into the courthouse ready to leave with nothing, only to steal the corporate registry files from my office safe the night before the hearing.
May you like
She had spent the last six months quiet, letting the Ashfords take the blame while she slowly bought up the infrastructure surrounding my new development.
"She’s trying to freeze the park's zoning permits," Marcus warned. "If she files the injunction by noon, the city will be forced to halt all construction until a full environmental review is completed."
