Chapter 273
I took out my phone and started recording. "It was Alex," the burly man blurted out. "Mr. Mercer made me do it! He promised me three hundred grand if I cooperated!"
"Who swapped the samples?"
"Mr. Mercer!"
"How many others were involved?"
"Two others knew what was going on. I paid them each fifty thousand."
"And what proof do you have that any of this is true?"
"I have evidence. Proof!" he insisted. "I recorded it!"
"There are no coincidences in this world," I muttered, more to myself than him.
The burly man shifted uncomfortably. "There's this… woman… works at the association. She's seeing someone on the side. I wanted to get some dirt on her, you know, leverage to… convince her to sleep with me.""Where's this recording?"
"On my phone!"
I fished through his pocket and found the recording. Sure enough, it was Alex's voice, clear as day.
I looked at Frank. "Save it," he said, "and delete the original from his phone. I have plans for this."
I nodded and turned back to the burly man. "Why frame me?"
"Someone put me up to it."
"Who?"
"A woman."
"Did you see her face?"
"No, she called from a burner."
Linda, that conniving witch.
"How much did she pay you?"
"Thirty grand."
I stood up. "Get out," I said, my voice low and dangerous. "If you value your life, get out of Sevan City and never come back."
His eyes widened in relief. "Thank you! Thank you! I'll be gone by nightfall. You won't see me in Sevan City ever again!"
"If it weren't for that recording," I said to Frank after the man had scurried away, "I'd be finished."
"But now," Frank said, a slow smile spreading across his face. "Alex is the one who's finished." He clapped me on the shoulder. "You did good, you know. A few well-placed words and that coward crumbled."
"He's driven by greed, nothing more," I said dismissively.
"You know," Frank said, his voice taking on a thoughtful tone, "Mr. Harrison was a mentor to me. He brought me into the liquor business, helped me establish Sevan City Beer. Without his guidance, we wouldn't have achieved this level of success so quickly."
It dawned on me then why Frank was so invested in this whole affair. It was personal. It also explained why Luke had been so willing to let me see the surveillance footage.
"Alex has had his eye on the chairman's seat for years," Frank continued. "This wine tasting event was his chance to humiliate Mr. Harrison. The calls for his resignation have been getting louder by the day. But with this recording…" He chuckled. "This changes everything."
"Come on," he said, clapping me on the shoulder again. "Let's go see Mr. Harrison."
Luke, who had spent his early career working for a national firm, had returned to Sevan City after retirement. His reputation had preceded him, and he was quickly elected chairman of the Sevan City Wine Association. Frank had told me stories of a younger Luke Harrison, a man who could drink anyone under the table, presiding over meetings with a glass of wine never far from his hand. I found it hard to believe; the man must have had a constitution of iron.
"Those are just stories now," Luke said with a chuckle, as if reading my mind. "I'm not the man I used to be."
He still managed to down three glasses of wine with no visible effect, though. A subtle show of strength, perhaps?
He raised his glass. "To John," he said, his eyes twinkling. "You gave us quite the surprise today."
I stood up quickly. "You honor me, Mr. Harrison. As a son of Sevan City, I couldn't let our fair city be disgraced."
He looked at me with approval. "Well said. A sentiment some people seem to have forgotten. They'd sell their own mothers for a leg up."
He sighed, a heavy sound. Both Frank and I knew who he was talking about. He had heard the recording, and it had only fueled his anger.
"A man I mentored personally," he said, shaking his head. "To think he would stoop so low as to sabotage me. I'm on the verge of retirement, and still, he couldn't resist trying to destroy me."
"Mr. Harrison," Frank said soothingly, "a man's character is often a mystery. Don't let someone like that steal your peace."
Luke waved a hand dismissively. "It's not anger I feel, but disappointment. A profound disappointment in human nature. But you know what? I'm at peace with my decision. I was going to retire after the wine tasting anyway. He couldn't even wait a few months."
"Mr. Harrison," I said, "perhaps this is a blessing in disguise. Better to expose him now than to let him gain more power. If he were to take control of the association…" I shook my head. "The Sevan City wine industry wouldn't stand a chance."
He nodded slowly. "You're right, John. You make a valid point." He turned to Frank, a new light in his eyes. "Allen, I have a proposition for you. How would you like to join the association as a director?"
"Me?" Frank looked surprised. "Mr. Harrison, I'm still young, relatively new to the industry…"
"Nonsense," Luke interrupted. "Age is just a number. We need fresh blood, new ideas. And you, Allen, you've already made your mark with that gold medal." He leaned forward conspiratorially. "Besides, the Wine Association has become too…insular. I've been thinking, it's time for a change. I'm going to propose a restructuring, expand our scope. We'll become the Sevan City Beverage Industry Association."
He spoke with such conviction, such certainty, that for a moment, I almost believed it was a done deal.
Frank glanced at me, his eyes questioning. I gave him an encouraging nod. He hesitated for a moment longer, then stood up, raising his glass. "I'm honored, Mr. Harrison. Truly."
"And John," Luke said, turning his attention to me, "if you have the time, I'd be honored if you'd consider joining the association as well. We could use someone with your…perspicacity."
I stood up, raising my glass in turn. "I'm humbled by your offer, Mr. Harrison."
We shared a smile, the three of us, a silent agreement passing between us.
After dinner, we drove to the Sevan City Wine Association headquarters. Luke had called an emergency meeting of the board, and the room was packed with the who's who of the Sevan City beverage industry.
Luke didn't waste time with pleasantries. "I've called you all here tonight for three reasons," he announced, his voice booming across the room. "Firstly, I'm announcing my retirement."
"Chairman, you can't!" Alex jumped to his feet, his voice a study in false concern. "The association needs you! We need your leadership!"
"Yes, Chairman, please reconsider!" A few scattered voices echoed his sentiment, but most of the room remained silent.
Alex, the hypocrite. All smiles and concern on the surface, while plotting behind everyone's backs. It's true what they say: the most dangerous enemies are often the ones closest to you.
"It seems," Luke said, a wry smile on his face, "that my leadership is no longer universally appreciated. I've been made aware that some individuals are…dissatisfied with my performance."
"Mr. Harrison," Alex said, his voice dripping with feigned outrage, "who would dare suggest such a thing? Without you, this association wouldn't even exist!"
"Yes, who is it?" another voice chimed in.
Luke, despite his age, still commanded respect. He had his supporters, people who saw through Alex's charade.
"I have in my possession," Luke announced, holding up a small digital recorder, "an audio recording that sheds some light on the events that transpired at the recent wine tasting. However, the contents of this recording are not for public consumption. Only the board members will be privy to this information." He stood up, his gaze sweeping across the room. "I'll be waiting in the conference room."
The board of directors, eight members in total, along with the chairman and vice chairman, filed out of the room, leaving behind a buzz of speculation and intrigue.
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