The voice on the other end was loud enough that I could hear the tinny, sharp tone of it, though I could not make out the words.

Daniel listened.

His face went from pale to a dangerous, stony grey.

“The meeting was postponed,” Daniel said.

“I had a family emergency.”

The voice on the other end spoke again, longer this time.

Daniel’s hand tightened on the phone until his knuckles turned yellow.

“You have no authority to call an extraordinary meeting without my consent,” Daniel said.

“I am still the chairman of the board.”

The voice replied, sharp and mocking.

I could hear the name *Sinclair* repeated.

Then, the caller said something that made Daniel freeze completely.

He looked at me.

His eyes were wide, filled with a sudden, sharp terror that had nothing to do with the merger.

“What did you say?” Daniel asked, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.

The voice on the line spoke slowly, as if explaining something to a child.

I caught a few words.

*…medical records…*

*…the clinic in Oregon…*

*…twelve years ago…*

Daniel did not answer.