"I don't know. But I remember hearing him say, 'Make sure the girl doesn't find out.'"
Ethan frowned.
"What girl?"
Margaret's eyes filled with tears.
"Emily."
Ethan leaned back.
"Why would he say that?"
"I don't know. But I think your father knew Thomas had hidden something."
Ethan looked at the folder.
"Then he may have known about the watch."
Margaret nodded.
"I think so."
She reached into her handbag and removed another document.
It was a handwritten note.
At the top were the words:
EMILY CARTER β MONITOR
Below it were several dates and addresses.
Margaret looked horrified.
"I found this in the same drawer."
Ethan stared at the paper.
His father had been monitoring Emily.
Not because she was dangerous.
Because he was afraid she would discover the truth.
CHAPTER 15: A MEETING THAT SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED
Three days later, Alexander received a call from an unfamiliar number.
The caller identified himself as a former employee of Northbridge Consulting.
His name was Samuel Price.
He claimed to have information about the financial transfers.
Alexander arranged a meeting at a public office.
Emily insisted on attending.
Samuel arrived carrying a briefcase.
He was in his early forties, with tired eyes and a nervous expression.
He sat down.
"Thank you for meeting me."
Alexander nodded.
"You said you have information about Northbridge Consulting."
Samuel looked at Emily.
"You're Thomas Carter's daughter?"
"Yes."
He lowered his eyes.
"I worked with your father."
Emily leaned forward.
"Did you know him?"
"Yes. He was a good man."
"Then why did you stay silent?"
Samuel swallowed.
"Because I was afraid."
Emily had heard those words too many times.
"What do you know?"
Samuel opened his briefcase.
He removed several printed statements.
"Northbridge was created to receive money from Whitmore International. The funds were then distributed through smaller companies."
Alexander examined the records.
"Who controlled the accounts?"
"Victor Hayes."
"And Richard?"
Samuel hesitated.
"Richard approved the transfers."
Emily's hands tightened.
"Was my father involved?"
"No."
The answer was immediate.
"Thomas discovered the accounts and reported them. He was trying to stop the payments."
Samuel looked at her.
"I was there when he confronted Victor."
Emily leaned forward.
"What happened?"
"Victor threatened him."
"What did he say?"
Samuel looked uncomfortable.
"He said Thomas would lose everything if he continued."
Emily's eyes filled with tears.
Samuel continued.
"Your father told him that he would rather lose his job than become part of a crime."
Alexander wrote something down.
"Do you have evidence?"
Samuel nodded.
"I kept copies of the original accounting files."
He placed a storage device on the table.
"There are records showing the transfers before the company altered them."
Alexander accepted it.
"This could be extremely important."
Samuel looked toward the window.
"There's something else."
"What?" Emily asked.
"Victor didn't act alone."
Emily already knew the answer.
"Richard."
Samuel nodded.
"But there was a third person."
Alexander frowned.
"Who?"
Samuel hesitated.
Then he said a name that changed everything.
"Margaret Whitmore."
Emily stared at him.
"What?"
Samuel looked directly at her.
"Your father's original report was delivered to her before it reached Richard."
Emily felt confused.
"Why would she be involved?"
"I don't know. But I saw her sign for the envelope."
Alexander leaned forward.
"Are you certain?"
Samuel nodded.
"I kept the delivery receipt."
He removed another document.
Margaret's signature was clearly visible.
Emily stared at it.
The woman who had seemed shocked by the revelation might have known more than she had admitted.
CHAPTER 16: THE SECOND SECRET
Ethan was furious when he heard about the delivery receipt.
He called his mother immediately.
"Mom, I need to ask you something."
"What happened?"
"Did Thomas Carter ever send you documents?"
Margaret went silent.
"Ethan?"
"Did you receive an envelope from him?"
After several seconds, she answered.
"Yes."
Ethan closed his eyes.
"What was in it?"
"I don't remember."
"Mom, this is serious."
Margaret's voice trembled.
"I remember receiving an envelope at the house. Thomas asked me to give it to your father."
"Did you?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"He said it was important."
Ethan leaned forward.
"Did you open it?"
Margaret did not answer.
"Mom?"
"Yes."
"What did you see?"
"Financial documents. I didn't understand all of them, but I saw your father's name and several account numbers."
"Why didn't you tell anyone?"
Margaret began crying.
"Because your father told me it was a private company matter."
Ethan was silent.
Then he asked:
"Did you know Thomas was innocent?"
Margaret whispered:
"I suspected it."
Ethan rubbed his face.
"Why didn't you help him?"
"Because I was afraid of what your father would do."
"Mom, you had a chance to help an innocent man."
"I know."
"Do you understand what that means?"
"I know!"
Her voice broke.
"I have lived with that guilt for three years."
Ethan closed his eyes.
For a moment, he felt sorry for her.
Then he remembered Emily.
He remembered her damaged clothing, her fear, and the pain in her voice when she spoke about her father.
"Mom, you need to tell the investigators everything."
Margaret nodded, even though he could not see her.
"I will."
CHAPTER 17: THE PRESS CONFERENCE
The investigation became public one week later.
News organizations began reporting that Whitmore International was under investigation for possible financial misconduct.
The headlines were immediate.
MAJOR CORPORATION FACES QUESTIONS OVER MILLIONS IN SUSPICIOUS TRANSFERS
FORMER EMPLOYEE'S DEATH REEXAMINED
WHITMORE FAMILY DIVIDED AS SON COOPERATES WITH INVESTIGATORS
Richard refused to comment.
Victor Hayes disappeared from public view.
Ethan released a statement confirming that he had voluntarily provided documents to investigators.
Emily watched the news from her apartment.
Her father's name appeared on television.
For the first time in three years, the reports did not describe him as a thief.
They called him a former employee whose accusations might have been ignored.
Emily began crying.
Alexander sat beside her.
"It's a start."
She nodded.
"I wish Dad could see this."
"I think he'd be proud."
Emily looked at him.