One month earlier

"How'd it go with Roman?" Tom places a glass of whisky down next to his father-in-law.

"Romulus is a good boy. He'll do as he's told." Logan takes a sip. "It's the other two I'm worried about. If they get the numbers, they could sabotage this whole deal."

"I thought they just wanted more money from Matsson."

"No. They're stalling." Logan shakes his head. "They know the Swede will lose patience eventually and pull out of the sale. Then we'll be fucked."

"So what are you going to do?"

Logan looks at Tom thoughtfully. "Can I trust you, Tom?"

"Of course," he says immediately. "I burned my bridges with Shiv and the others to help you."

"I'm going to fly out to see Matsson tomorrow," Logan says. "And I want you to come with me. We'll need a few others too — Frank, Karl, Karolina. But no Gerri. I can't trust her."

"Okay," says Tom. "So we are going to ask Matsson for more money?"

"No," says Logan. "I won't make it to Matsson. I'll die before I get there."

"Right. Sure. Sorry, what?"

"You have to help me fake my death on the plane. We'll have a couple of fake medics on standby too. We won't let the others come too close."

"Uh, I'm not sure…"

"The only way the sale will go through is if the three of them think I'm dead. Then they'll want to honour my last wishes."

"But sir—" Tom fights back hysterical laughter. "They'll never believe it."

"They will if you make them. Call them up and tell them. We'll be up in the air, no one to verify, except my guys."

"But…" Tom falters. "They'll want to see the body when you land."

"I have a plan for that too. I have a plan for everything, remember?"

Tom struggles to think of another logical objection. "If you die the share price will plummet."

"For a couple of days, maybe."

"And if the kids decide to keep the company for themselves?"

Logan frowns. "That would require them supporting each other, which they never do for long."

"But — this is—" Tom can't think of the right word to describe this plan. "It's kind of… evil?"

"I'll be dead for a couple of weeks at most. The kids will be fine. They'll be happy when I come back."

"I don't know, sir. I don't think Siobhan would ever forgive you… or me."

"Your marriage is over anyway," Logan says dismissively. "Let me worry about the kids. The important thing is the sale goes through, we all get richer. I don't have to watch any of those three idiots run my company into the ground. They'll thank me eventually."

"I don't think I can be involved in this."

"You're already involved." Logan raises his glass. "Unless you want out of ATN? Out of the Roys for good?"

Tom stares at his father-in-law. His lip trembles slightly, but he says defiantly, "I want my position guaranteed in return."

Logan smiles. "I knew you would, son."