Chapter 6 - NICHOLAS FIRES BACK
Nicholas did not wait for investigators.
The next morning, Carver Meridian issued a statement.
Former employee Emma Callahan was terminated for unauthorized access, removal of confidential data, and threatening behavior toward executive personnel.
Emma read it twice.
Then laughed.
David did not.
“They’re building the story.”
“Yes.”
“They did it to Michael.”
That stopped her.
Nicholas’s attorneys demanded return of all company materials.
Emma’s attorney, Grace Chen, responded immediately.
Preservation notice.
Whistleblower retaliation claim.
Demand for litigation hold.
Notice of potential criminal evidence.
Then Nicholas went personal.
He alleged Emma had falsified reconciliation reports after being denied promotion.
False.
He circulated an HR complaint filed against her two years earlier for “abrasive communication.”
Technically real.
An assistant controller once complained Emma was rude in emails.
Now it became evidence of instability.
Emma sat in Grace’s office.
“This is ridiculous.”
Grace nodded.
“Ridiculous does not mean ineffective.”
Emma hated that sentence.
Then David was suspended.
Carver Meridian claimed he had violated security confidentiality by accessing vehicle logs after reassignment.
That was probably true.
His access may have exceeded authorization.
Good motives do not erase policy violations.
David accepted that.
“I should have gone straight to police.”
Emma looked at him.
“Yes.”
He nodded.
No defensiveness.
That made her trust him slightly more.
Then Michael Trent’s wife called.
Not widow.
May you like
Wife.
Michael was alive.
