Chapter 4 - EIGHT POINT FOUR MILLION
The necklace disappeared from the conversation.
That was exactly what Brenda wanted.
Andrew stared at the transfer records.
Vance Hospitality.
Three outgoing wires.
Authorized through a subsidiary Mariana controlled.
Total: $8.4 million.
“Mariana?”
She looked at him.
“You hit me.”
His face tightened.
“I know.”
“No. I don’t think you do.”
“I’m sorry.”
“You’re sorry because the camera proved Brenda entered my room.”
“I’m sorry because I hit you.”
“Then understand this: we are not skipping over it because another accusation appeared.”
Andrew looked ashamed.
Good.
He should.
Margaret interrupted.
“Where is the money?”
Mariana looked at her.
“Protected.”
“From whom?”
Mariana glanced toward Brenda.
“Someone trying to take it.”
Brenda laughed.
“There it is.”
“What?”
“The heroic explanation.”
Brenda addressed Andrew.
“Your wife moved company money into accounts you don’t control, refused to tell you, and now says she was protecting you.”
Mariana said, “You searched my room illegally.”
“Yes.”
Brenda did not flinch.
“Because I suspected financial misconduct.”
“You could have gone to the board.”
“I did.”
Andrew turned.
“What?”
Brenda continued.
“Two weeks ago.”
Andrew looked at his mother.
Margaret avoided his eyes.
Mariana noticed.
“You knew.”
Margaret said, “We had concerns.”
“You investigated me behind my back.”
“You moved eight million dollars behind ours.”
Fair.
Mariana hated that it was fair.
She looked at Andrew.
“Your company has a loan covenant review Monday.”
His expression changed.
“How do you know?”
“Because unlike your board, I read the subsidiaries.”
Brenda’s eyes narrowed.
Mariana continued.
“Someone has been manufacturing vendor invoices through Eastbridge Management.”
Margaret frowned.
“I’ve never heard of it.”
“You paid them twelve million dollars.”
Andrew said, “That’s impossible.”
“No.”
Mariana opened files on her phone.
“I moved $8.4 million from the subsidiary because someone attempted to sweep it into an Eastbridge account.”
Brenda examined the records.
“These could be fabricated.”
“Yes.”
Mariana looked at her.
“Which is why I was at the bank.”
Andrew’s anger shifted.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because your authorization token approved two of the Eastbridge payments.”
Silence.
Andrew stared.
“I didn’t approve them.”
“I hoped you’d say that.”
Brenda looked at Andrew.
“Or she wants you to say that.”
Mariana turned.
Brenda continued.
“If Mariana planned to seize control of the company, convincing you your credentials were compromised would be useful.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“Is it?”
Brenda stepped closer.
“You transferred millions. You installed secret cameras. You held private bank meetings. You collected company records in your bedroom.”
Every point was true.
The conclusion was not.
That made Brenda dangerous.
Margaret suddenly said, “The necklace.”
Everyone looked at her.
“What about it?” Andrew asked.
“The clasp.”
Margaret’s face had changed.
“What?” Mariana asked.
Margaret whispered, “There was a key inside it.”
Andrew frowned.
“A key to what?”
Margaret closed her eyes.
“Something your father left me.”
Brenda stared.
“You never told us that.”
“No.”
“Where does the key go?”
Margaret looked at Andrew.
“A bank box.”
Mariana felt the entire night rearrange itself.
The necklace was not stolen for the emeralds.
Someone wanted the key.
Andrew asked, “What’s in the box?”
May you like
Margaret whispered:
“Proof that your father committed a crime.”
