Amanda Foster: "Let's discuss the payment authorization."
Richard's posture became noticeably stiffer.
Richard Collins: "What about it?"
Amanda Foster: "The original authorization and the final accounting record contain different amounts."
Richard Collins: "That is an administrative matter."
Amanda Foster: "It is precisely why we are reviewing it."
Richard Collins: "There may have been a legitimate adjustment."
Amanda Foster: "Then we need the supporting documentation."
Richard leaned back.
Richard Collins: "The supporting documents should be in the records department."
Thomas Reed: "One of the original attachments is currently missing."
Richard looked at him.
Richard Collins: "Missing?"
Amanda Foster: "Yes."
Richard Collins: "That has nothing to do with me."
Robert placed a printed access report on the table.
Captain Robert Mitchell: "Your account accessed the file on several occasions."
Richard looked at the report.
For the first time, his confidence appeared to weaken.
Richard Collins: "I have access to many administrative files. That's part of my responsibility."
Amanda Foster: "We understand. We are asking about this particular file."
Richard remained silent.
Amanda then placed a second document on the table.
It was a copy of the handwritten note Daniel had seen.
The note contained a name, a payment amount, and several initials.
Richard stared at it.
Richard Collins: "Where did you get that?"
Amanda Foster: "It was identified during the review."
Richard Collins: "That document is incomplete."
Amanda Foster: "What does it mean?"
Richard looked toward Robert.
Then toward Thomas.
He appeared to be deciding whether to continue denying everything or provide an explanation.
Richard Collins: "I think you need to understand that this transaction was part of a broader administrative arrangement."
Amanda Foster: "What arrangement?"
Richard Collins: "There were several departments involved."
Amanda Foster: "Who authorized the payments?"
Richard hesitated.
Richard Collins: "I don't remember every detail."
Amanda Foster: "Your signature appears on the authorization."
Richard Collins: "I signed many documents."
Thomas Reed: "And the missing attachment?"
Richard Collins: "I have no knowledge of its location."
The interview continued for nearly an hour.
Richard provided several explanations, but many of them contradicted the administrative records.
At the end of the meeting, the compliance team requested additional documentation and informed him that the matter would be referred for further independent examination.
Richard left the conference room without making another comment.
Robert watched him disappear down the hallway.
He knew that the investigation was entering a more complicated stage.
But he also knew that they had finally uncovered a reason why Emily's documents had been treated as a threat.
The following morning, the compliance team contacted Emily.
They asked whether she could provide the original email correspondence and any additional documents related to the appointment.
Emily agreed.
She returned to the courthouse with James.
This time, she was not alone.
A representative from the independent review office met her at the reception desk.
No one shouted.
No one questioned her unnecessarily.
She was escorted directly to a meeting room.
Amanda was waiting.
Amanda Foster: "Good morning, Ms. Carter. Thank you for coming."
Emily Carter: "Good morning."
Amanda Foster: "We have reviewed the documents you submitted. We would like to clarify how you received them and why you were asked to bring the originals."
Emily placed a small envelope on the table.
Emily Carter: "I brought the emails and the original appointment confirmation."
Amanda examined them.
The appointment confirmation was dated the previous afternoon.
It clearly showed that Emily had been instructed to deliver the documents in person.
Amanda Foster: "Who sent you this confirmation?"
Emily Carter: "It came from the administrative office."
Amanda Foster: "Do you recognize the sender?"
Emily Carter: "I remember the name now. It was an assistant working for Mr. Collins."
Amanda looked up.
Amanda Foster: "Did that person explain why the original documents were required?"
Emily Carter: "They said the matter was urgent and that the original payment authorization needed to be reviewed."
Amanda wrote down the information.
Amanda Foster: "Did anyone tell you that your appointment had been cancelled?"
Emily Carter: "No. Nobody contacted me."
Amanda Foster: "Did you receive any warning that your access might be restricted?"
Emily Carter: "No."
Amanda nodded.
The information was consistent with the records they had already obtained.
Then Emily remembered something else.
Emily Carter: "There's another email."
Amanda looked up.
Amanda Foster: "What does it concern?"
Emily Carter: "The person who contacted me asked whether I could bring the complete file, including the correspondence from the previous review."
Amanda Foster: "Do you still have that email?"
Emily Carter: "Yes. I printed it."
She handed over the page.
Amanda read it carefully.
The email contained an instruction to bring all supporting documents, including a copy of the original payment approval.
At the bottom was a short sentence:
"Please ensure that the complete file is submitted before the internal review deadline."
Amanda placed the paper beside the appointment confirmation.
Amanda Foster: "This is important."
Emily Carter: "Does it help?"
Amanda Foster: "It helps establish why you were expected to be here and what documents you were carrying."
Emily looked relieved.
For the first time, she felt that the information she had brought was being treated with the seriousness it deserved.
After the meeting, Amanda spoke privately with Robert.
Amanda Foster: "The appointment confirmation is genuine. The email was sent through the official administrative system."
Captain Robert Mitchell: "And the restriction?"
Amanda Foster: "It was entered after the confirmation had already been issued."
Robert looked at her.
Captain Robert Mitchell: "So someone changed the status without notifying her."
Amanda Foster: "That's what the records indicate."
Robert nodded.
Amanda continued.
Amanda Foster: "We also found evidence that the original payment authorization was viewed by Richard Collins shortly before the appointment restriction was entered."