Chapter 6 - The Shadows of the Corporation
In the pitch black of the pump house, the roar of the water pumps seemed to grow even louder, a deafening beast that filled every corner of the room.
"Eleanor," Michael whispered, his hand reaching out to find hers in the dark. "Don't move."
A second later, a beam of light cut through the window of the workshop door. It was a bright, clinical LED flashlight, moving slowly across the metal catwalk outside.
"Mr. Patterson," a voice called out over the roar of the machinery. It was Arthur Vance’s voice, but it lacked his usual polite, subservient tone. It was cold, sharp, and entirely devoid of mercy. "I knew you’d come here. You’ve always been a man of action, Michael. But sometimes, action without foresight is a very dangerous thing."
Michael stepped in front of Eleanor, his body shielding her from the door. He drew his own small flashlight, turning it on and pointing it through the window.
Arthur stood on the catwalk, flanked by two large men in dark security uniforms. They weren't the regular plant guards; they were members of Patterson Industries' corporate security team—men who answered directly to Arthur and the board’s executive committee.
"Arthur," Michael shouted through the door. "What is the meaning of this? This is a private safety audit."
"No, Michael," Arthur said, taking a step closer to the door. "This is an unauthorized intrusion into a secure municipal facility. You’ve been under a lot of stress since Sarah’s death. The board has been concerned about your mental state for months. Coming here tonight, with the widow of a disgruntled contractor... it’s a tragic breakdown."
He gestured to the guards. "We’re going to take you back to your house, Michael. And we’re going to take that notebook. It’s proprietary company property, after all."
"This notebook proves criminal negligence, Arthur!" Michael roared, his voice cracking with fury. "It proves you and the regional managers knew the valve was going to fail! You ignored David Vance’s warnings to protect the fourth-quarter profit margins!"
"And who is going to believe that?" Arthur said, his smile visible even in the dim light. "The notebook was found in a dusty cabinet by a man who is currently suffering a mental health crisis and a woman who is desperate for a payout. It’s easily discredited. Or, better yet, it can simply go missing during the transport."
"I have the letter David wrote to Sarah," Michael said, his hand reaching into his coat pocket. "He detailed everything. The letter is already in the hands of my personal attorneys."
Arthur’s smile faltered for a fraction of a second, his eyes narrowing. "Your personal attorneys work for the firm, Michael. They answer to the board. We’ve already frozen your corporate accounts and suspended your access to the company servers. As of eight o’clock tonight, the board has voted to initiate an emergency succession plan. You are no longer the CEO of Patterson Industries."
The realization hit Michael like a physical blow. The company he had spent thirty years building, the company that carried his name, had turned on him like a pack of wolves. He was no longer the master of the house; he was a liability to be removed.
May you like
"Arthur, please," Eleanor’s voice came from behind Michael. She stood up, her hand holding the black notebook tightly against her chest. "My husband is dead. We have nothing. Just let us go. We won't say anything."
"I’m sorry, Mrs. Vance," Arthur said, his voice turning falsely sympathetic. "But some secrets are too expensive to keep. Guards, open the door."
