“But they do,” Daniel said, pointing a finger at Henderson and the others. “They care about their shares.”

“Not at the cost of criminal conspiracy, Daniel,” Evelyn said, closing her folder with a sharp snap.

I watched Daniel’s face change. The arrogance faded, replaced by something dark and desperate.

He reached into his breast pocket, his hand moving quickly.

Before he could pull his hand out, the phone on the center of the boardroom table began to ring.

It was the main line from the security desk downstairs.

Ethan reached over and hit the speakerbutton.

“Mr. Whitmore,” the security guard’s voice came through, sounding tense. “We have a situation in the lobby.”

“State your business, Marcus,” Ethan said, his hand remaining steady on the speakerphone.

The security guard took a sharp breath that rattled through the line.

“There are federal agents down here, Mr. Whitmore,” Marcus said. “They have a warrant for Mr. Pierce’s personal office and his digital devices.”

The boardroom remained perfectly still.

Daniel’s hand slowly withdrew from his breast pocket, empty.

His fingers were trembling.

“Send them up,” Ethan said, and cut the line.