Richard quickly put his phone away.
Richard: "Nothing."
Evelyn: "You look worried."
Richard: "You should concern yourself with your own problems."
Evelyn: "I think we're past that point."
Before Richard could respond, Thomas Reed returned from the security office.
Thomas: "Sergeant, there's something else you should see."
Sergeant Reynolds turned toward him.
Sergeant Reynolds: "What is it?"
Thomas held up the tablet.
Thomas: "We reviewed the footage from another camera. It covers the corridor outside the main conference room."
Officer Harris: "Does it show anything relevant?"
Thomas hesitated.
Thomas: "It shows Mr. Bennett arriving with another person about fifteen minutes before the incident."
Richard's head turned sharply.
Richard: "That's private footage."
Thomas continued.
Thomas: "The other person appears to be Mr. David Collins."
Evelyn immediately recognized the name.
David Collins.
The second person mentioned in her father's letter.
Sergeant Reynolds looked at the screen.
Sergeant Reynolds: "Can you show us?"
Thomas nodded and opened the recording.
The footage showed Richard walking through the corridor.
Beside him was a tall man wearing a dark suit.
They stopped near the conference room.
David Collins looked around before speaking.
Then he handed Richard a small black envelope.
Richard accepted it.
The two men exchanged a few words.
And before entering the conference room, David pointed toward the hallway where Evelyn would later be standing.
The recording continued.
Richard looked in the direction of the entrance.
Then he nodded.
The officers watched without speaking.
Evelyn felt her stomach tighten.
Evelyn: "That's him."
Sergeant Reynolds: "You recognize the man?"
Evelyn: "No. But my father wrote his name."
Richard stepped forward.
Richard: "This is a private meeting. There is nothing suspicious about it."
Officer Harris: "Nobody has accused you of anything based on this recording."
Richard: "Then why are you watching it?"
Sergeant Reynolds: "Because we are establishing the sequence of events."
Thomas moved the recording forward.
A few minutes later, David Collins left the conference room.
He did not use the main entrance.
Instead, he walked toward a side corridor leading to the underground parking area.
The officers watched him disappear from view.
Then Thomas stopped the video.
Thomas: "There's another recording from the parking area."
Sergeant Reynolds: "Please retrieve it."
Richard suddenly raised his voice.
Richard: "This is going too far!"
Sergeant Reynolds turned toward him.
Sergeant Reynolds: "Mr. Bennett, you need to calm down."
Richard: "You are investigating people who have done nothing wrong based on the accusations of a woman who has already admitted that her father was involved in an old financial dispute."
Evelyn stared at him.
Evelyn: "My father was trying to expose you."
Richard: "Your father ruined his own life."
Evelyn: "No. You helped ruin it."
Richard: "You have no idea what he did."
Evelyn: "Then tell us."
Richard fell silent.
Evelyn stepped forward.
Her voice was no longer trembling.
Evelyn: "You keep saying my father made mistakes. You keep saying he was dishonest. But you have never once explained what he actually did."
Richard looked at her.
Evelyn: "If he stole the money, show us the evidence. If he falsified the reports, show us the records. If he was responsible for the missing funds, explain why you spent so many years trying to prevent anyone from examining the original accounts."
Richard's expression became cold again.
Richard: "You are making accusations that could have serious consequences."
Evelyn: "Good. Maybe it's time someone faced consequences."
The words echoed through the hallway.
Laura, the witness who had helped Evelyn, stood quietly nearby.
She had originally believed she was witnessing an argument between two strangers.
Now she understood that the situation was much bigger.
Laura: "Officer, I think you should also speak with the receptionist."
Officer Harris: "Why?"
Laura: "She was here when the man in the dark suit arrived. I heard her mention that he asked for a private room."
Thomas turned toward the reception desk.
Thomas: "I'll bring her over."
A young woman approached a moment later.
Her name was Emily Parker.
She looked nervous.
Thomas: "Emily, the officers need to ask you a few questions about the visitors who arrived earlier."
Emily glanced at Richard.
Then she looked at the officers.
Emily: "All right."
Officer Harris: "Did you see Mr. Bennett arrive with another gentleman today?"
Emily nodded.
Emily: "Yes. Mr. Collins."
Officer Harris: "Did you hear their conversation?"
Emily: "Not everything. But I heard something."
Sergeant Reynolds: "What did you hear?"
Emily hesitated.
Richard's expression became threatening.
Richard: "Emily, you don't need to get involved."
The young receptionist looked uncomfortable.
Sergeant Reynolds: "She can decide whether she wishes to provide a statement. Please don't interfere."
Emily took a breath.
Emily: "I heard Mr. Collins say that the woman would be arriving soon."
Evelyn looked up.
Evelyn: "He knew I was coming?"
Emily nodded.
Emily: "Yes. He said something about making sure she didn't leave with the documents."
Richard closed his eyes briefly.
Sergeant Reynolds: "Did you hear anything else?"
Emily: "I heard him say that the meeting had to happen before the files were transferred."
Officer Harris: "Which files?"
Emily: "I don't know."
Sergeant Reynolds: "Did he mention a location?"
Emily thought for a moment.