Page 14 of The Suit

“We were at college together.”

“You’re friends?”

“NO! Fuck no!” I shouted, loudly enough that it wiped the perma-grin off Cody’s face.

“But you know each other?”

“Yeah, you could say that. We were rivals at Harvard, so when I say we absolutely have to win this case, we have to fucking win this case. The stakes are much higher than simply getting a good payday. I amnotlosing to Beulah Holmes.”

I had no plans to elaborate on it any further. Diego stared at me for a second longer than I was comfortable with, then went back to his sub. His third sub.

“Okay.”

“Okay.”

“Okay. Cody, keep digging. Two years ago Johnson Maynard was valued at sixteen billion. There’s money there. If they’ve brought someone in to close before it’s started, then it’s because this isn’t a straightforward divorce. If they’ve broughtherin, then…” I trailed off, suddenly unsure of what I wanted to say.

Fuck. Once again, I cursed my mother for having a friend who needed a divorce, and getting me involved in it.

“What’s the next step?”

“The negotiations start tomorrow. Division of the assets.”

“I’ve taken a look at the files they sent over, and my guys are going through the disclosures. There are reams of bank statements, which the forensic team has started work on. Cody, I’ll send it over once they’ve shared what they’ve found and maybe it’ll help with what you’re looking for. Is there anything you want them to concentrate on?”

“How much are they offering again?”

“Twenty mil.”

“And they’re saying it’s an even split?”

I nodded. “Pretty much. They’ve valued him at fifty mil, give or take some stock.”

“He’s gone from sixteen billion to fifty million? That’s quite the drop.”

“Yeah.”

“How far back did they send the financial stuff?”

“Two years.”

“Your guys will know what they’re looking for, but can you let me know if there are any names out of the ordinary they find? Like company names or bank accounts that don’t seem relevant, accounts that are empty too. If he still has the money he’ll have hidden it in shell corporations, but there might be some clues in that paperwork.”

Diego picked up the phone and relayed the order to whoever answered on the other end. “Done.”

“Thanks, Big Man.” Cody’s fingers started moving at warp speed across his keyboard again. “Once I have any names, I can code the program to search it, but I’ll make a start. If they have the shell companies, it might be how they’re communicating too.”

“Cool. Now, what assets are we talking about? What was the exact offer?”

“No assets. They say it’s all company owned, therefore untouchable. He owns thirty percent stock, they’ve offered five per cent and twenty million cash, and if she agrees to that, she’ll get a board seat with one voting right, and one each for the kids.”

Diego’s chair creaked again as he leaned back and put his feet on the desk. “How many kids?”

“Three. They’re late teens, and not one of them has a nice thing to say about their father. They’re Team Mom all the way.”

He nodded like that was no surprise. “Have you talked to the kids?”

I shook my head. “Not extensively yet. Mrs. Maynard hasn’t wanted to involve them. Two are in college, and one’s finishing high school.”

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