Richard Bennett's account.
Evelyn carefully pointed toward it.
Evelyn: "Sergeant, that page is important. Please make sure it is included."
Sergeant Reynolds: "Why is that particular page important?"
Evelyn: "Because it shows where the missing money went."
Richard laughed nervously.
Richard: "There is no missing money. Those are legitimate business transactions."
Evelyn: "Then why were they concealed?"
Richard: "You don't understand accounting."
Evelyn: "I understand enough to recognize that the same amount was transferred three times under different descriptions."
Richard: "That is a normal business practice."
Evelyn: "Not when the money belongs to people who were promised something entirely different."
Sergeant Reynolds looked at the page again.
Sergeant Reynolds: "Mr. Bennett, are you familiar with these transactions?"
Richard: "I have thousands of transactions across my businesses. I cannot be expected to remember every transfer."
Evelyn: "You signed the authorization yourself."
Richard: "I already told you that I sign hundreds of documents."
Evelyn: "And you expect everyone to believe that you never knew where the money was going?"
Richard turned toward her.
Richard: "You have absolutely no idea what you're talking about."
Evelyn: "I know that a family lost their home because of this."
For the first time, her voice broke slightly.
She looked down at the photograph inside the folder.
Evelyn: "I know that a man spent the last years of his life believing that nobody would ever listen to him. I know that his family was left with debts they never created."
The hallway became quiet.
Even Richard seemed momentarily unsure of what to say.
Evelyn: "And I know that while they were struggling to survive, you were buying another property and attending charity dinners."
Richard: "Enough."
Evelyn: "No. It isn't enough. It has never been enough."
Richard moved toward her, but Officer Harris stepped between them.
Officer Harris: "Sir, stay where you are."
Richard stopped.
His eyes moved between the two officers.
Richard: "I am not threatening anyone."
Officer Harris: "Then please maintain your distance."
Richard slowly raised both hands.
Richard: "Fine."
But his expression suggested that he was already thinking about what to do next.
A few minutes later, the building manager arrived.
His name was Thomas Reed.
He was a middle-aged man who had worked in the building for almost fifteen years.
Thomas approached the officers with an anxious expression.
Thomas: "I was informed that there was an incident. Is everyone all right?"
Sergeant Reynolds: "We need access to the security footage from the hallway."
Thomas looked toward Richard.
Thomas: "Mr. Bennett, is there a problem?"
Richard: "There is no problem. A woman fell, and somehow the police have decided to turn it into an investigation."
Thomas looked at Evelyn.
Thomas: "Are you injured, ma'am?"
Evelyn: "I believe so, but I'll be all right."
Sergeant Reynolds: "Mr. Reed, we need to preserve any recordings covering the incident. Please make sure nothing is deleted or overwritten."
Thomas nodded.
Thomas: "Of course. I can arrange that."
Richard immediately objected.
Richard: "You should speak with the legal department first."
Thomas: "I understand, Mr. Bennett. But the officers have requested that we preserve the footage."
Richard: "I know how the building's procedures work."
Thomas: "Yes, sir."
Thomas looked uncomfortable.
He clearly did not want to become involved in a disagreement with someone as influential as Richard.
Nevertheless, he turned toward the security office.
Thomas: "I'll retrieve the recordings."
Richard watched him leave.
His phone began vibrating.
He looked at the screen.
The caller's name was David Collins.
Richard answered immediately.
Richard: "What?"
David: "Where are you? I've been trying to reach you."
Richard: "I'm dealing with a situation."
David: "What kind of situation?"
Richard glanced toward the officers.
Richard: "Nothing important. A woman is making accusations."
David: "Is it the woman we discussed this morning?"
Richard's expression hardened.
Richard: "Yes."
There was a brief silence.
David: "Richard, listen to me carefully. You need to get those documents."
Richard: "I'm trying."
David: "What do you mean, you're trying?"
Richard: "The police are here."
David's voice immediately changed.
David: "The police?"
Richard: "Keep your voice down."
David: "Did she show them the records?"
Richard: "Some of them."
David: "You cannot allow them to see the rest."
Richard looked around again.
Richard: "I know that."
David: "Do you understand what happens if those records become part of an official investigation?"
Richard: "I said I know!"
He ended the call.
But it was too late.
Officer Harris had noticed that Richard appeared increasingly nervous.
He had also noticed that the businessman kept glancing at the folder.
Officer Harris: "Mr. Bennett, who were you speaking with?"
Richard: "A business associate."
Officer Harris: "Can you provide his name?"
Richard: "I don't see why that is relevant."
Officer Harris: "You are not required to explain every private conversation. But if the call is relevant to this incident or the documents, we may need to establish that."
Richard: "It had nothing to do with the incident."
Sergeant Reynolds looked at him.
Sergeant Reynolds: "Then there should be no difficulty establishing that later if necessary."
Richard put his phone into his pocket.
He had made a serious mistake.