Chapter 6 - Meredith’s Real Name
Meredith Vale had never been born Meredith Vale.
Grace learned that before sunrise.
Her maiden name was Meredith Sloan.
Her father was Daniel Sloan.
The name meant nothing to Grace.
It meant everything to Jonathan.
“He was Thomas’s attorney.”
Jonathan sat in a conference room surrounded by lawyers and investigators.
“Not company counsel?”
“No. Personal attorney.”
Noah placed several historical filings on the table.
Daniel Sloan had drafted the transfer agreement containing Evelyn’s forged signature.
Grace felt sick.
“So Meredith married the son of the man whose lawyer helped steal my mother’s shares.”
Jonathan nodded.
“No coincidence.”
“Charles knew?”
“I don’t know anymore.”
Grace laughed bitterly.
“You say that a lot.”
Jonathan accepted it.
Again.
Police found Agnes that afternoon.
Alive.
She had been left inside an abandoned storage facility twenty miles from her home.
Dehydrated.
Frightened.
But conscious.
Grace visited her in the hospital.
Agnes gripped her wrist.
“It was a woman.”
“Meredith?”
“I never saw her face.”
“What did she want?”
“The tape.”
Grace leaned closer.
“She asked where the copies were.”
“Copies?”
Agnes looked confused.
“I told Thomas there were copies years ago. I lied. It kept me alive.”
“So there are no copies.”
Agnes looked at Grace.
“There might be now.”
Noah had digitized the recording.
Multiple copies existed.
Grace almost smiled.
For the first time, fear was moving in the other direction.
That evening Meredith requested a meeting.
Alone.
Grace refused the alone part.
They met inside a police-monitored private room at the hotel.
Meredith entered without diamonds.
Without the white gown.
Without an audience, she looked different.
Smaller.
Not kinder.
“I owe you an apology,” she began.
Grace stared at her.
“For the champagne?”
“For all of it.”
“That’s convenient.”
Meredith sat.
“My father spent his life protecting Thomas Vale.”
“And you continued the family business?”
Meredith’s eyes hardened.
“You think Charles controls that company?”
“I think he tried to burn evidence.”
“He did.”
Grace had not expected the admission.
“Why?”
“Because he’s terrified.”
“Of prison?”
“Of Jonathan.”
Grace frowned.
Meredith leaned closer.
“Your mistake is believing Jonathan Vale is the innocent brother.”
Grace felt a chill.
“He didn’t forge the signature.”
“No.”
“He didn’t threaten my mother.”
“Probably not.”
“Then what are you saying?”
“I’m saying men like Jonathan don’t become billionaires by being confused for forty years.”
Grace stared at her.
Meredith placed a USB drive on the table.
“My father kept records.”
“Why give this to me?”
“Because Charles is planning to sacrifice me.”
Grace almost laughed.
“So this is self-preservation.”
“Of course.”
At least she was honest.
Grace reached for the drive.
Meredith stopped her.
“One more thing.”
“What?”
“Jonathan knows exactly why your mother disappeared.”
Grace’s hand froze.
“You’re lying.”
“Ask him about October 14, 1992.”
“What happened that day?”
Meredith smiled without warmth.
“That was the day Evelyn Holloway came to his office.”
Grace’s heartbeat accelerated.
“She tried calling him.”
“She eventually stopped calling.”
“Because?”
“Because she met him.”
Grace shook her head.
“Agnes said Jonathan never called back.”
“I didn’t say he called.”
Meredith stood.
“She went to him.”
Grace felt suddenly unsteady.
“What did he do?”
Meredith walked toward the door.
Then turned.
May you like
“He chose the company.”
Again.
