He let the door click shut behind him, cutting off the low murmur of the hospital corridor.

“It was private,” Nathan said. “Until the board called an emergency session twenty minutes ago.”

Victor’s hand went to his tie, adjusting the knot out of habit.

“The board doesn’t meet without my authorization,” Victor said.

“They do when the General Counsel calls the meeting,” Nathan said.

He walked over to the bedside table, stepping past Victor as if he were not even there.

He set his briefcase down right next to the plastic pitcher of water.

The brass clasps popped open with a loud, metallic snap that made me flinch.

Nathan pulled out a stack of papers bound in blue legal backing.

“What is that?” Victor asked.

He stepped closer, but Nathan held up a hand, stopping him.

“These are the transaction records for Blue Alpine LLC,” Nathan said. “And the offshore transfers to Horizon Meridian.”

I watched Victor’s face.

The color drained from his cheeks, leaving his skin a dull, chalky gray under the harsh fluorescent lights.

“Those are proprietary corporate files,” Victor whispered.