Chapter 4 - THE MERGER THEY NEEDED HER GONE FOR
Alden Maritime Partners was not worth what Grant claimed.
Independent valuation showed that clearly.
Its reported debt was $74 million.
Actual contingent obligations pushed exposure closer to $131 million.
Why did Grant want it anyway?
Because he had personally invested in a private fund that owned a large position in Alden debt.
If Wren Holdings acquired Alden, the debt would be refinanced.
Grant’s investment would recover.
Possibly triple.
He had not disclosed the conflict.
Claire knew.
Henry knew enough to know Grant would benefit.
Margaret knew almost nothing.
Evelyn had discovered the hidden connection three weeks before the lake trip.
She confronted Grant privately.
He denied it.
Then she requested a special board audit.
That request would have exposed everything.
The next morning, Henry invited her to the lake.
“Family conversation,” he said.
Mara looked at the timeline.
“They didn’t want your shares because of inheritance.”
“They wanted the vote.”
“Yes.”
Evelyn controlled twenty-eight percent of Wren Holdings voting stock.
Grant had nineteen.
Claire twelve.
Henry twenty-one.
Margaret held no direct voting shares.
Without Evelyn, Grant and Henry could dominate the merger bloc.
With her alive and opposing, the merger likely failed.
That was motive.
Strong.
Not yet proof of attempted murder beyond the camera audio.
Then Mara found something else.
A text from Claire to Grant the night before the boat trip:
If she still refuses, Dad says we handle it on the water.
Grant replied:
No witnesses.
Evelyn stared at the message.
No witnesses.
May you like
Two words.
Enough to make her hands shake again.
