The executive offices occupied the entire upper floor of the Grand Sterling Hotel's east wing.
Unlike the public ballroom, which was decorated with golden columns and crystal chandeliers, this area was designed for privacy. Thick carpets covered the floors, dark wooden doors separated the offices, and security cameras monitored every corridor.
James Whitmore led Daniel Carter toward the financial department.
Victoria followed closely behind them, carrying a tablet containing the registration footage and Richard's messages.
Anthony Brooks, the hotel's security manager, walked several steps ahead.
"Nobody should have entered this area without authorization," James said.
Anthony checked his tablet.
"According to the access records, three employees entered the executive floor during the last hour."
"Who?"
"Victor Lang, his administrative assistant, and someone from the external IT department."
Daniel looked at him.
"Did any of them leave carrying equipment?"
Anthony examined the footage.
"Victor entered at 8:52 and left at 9:07. His assistant entered at 9:11. The IT contractor arrived at 9:18 and remained inside for approximately twelve minutes."
James frowned.
"Why was the IT contractor there?"
"His work order says he was performing routine server maintenance."
Daniel exchanged a glance with Victoria.
"At nine eighteen on the night of a charity auction?"
Victoria shook her head.
"That isn't part of the normal schedule."
They reached Victor's office.
The door was closed.
James tried the handle.
Locked.
He knocked twice.
Nobody answered.
Anthony examined the electronic access panel.
"Someone has disabled the temporary access code."
James became impatient.
"Can you open it?"
"I'll need authorization."
James took out his phone and contacted the hotel's general manager. After confirming his identity and explaining the circumstances, he received permission to access the office under security supervision.
Anthony entered an emergency code.
The door unlocked.
Inside, the office appeared almost untouched.
A large wooden desk stood in front of a window overlooking Manhattan. Several framed photographs decorated the walls. One showed Victor shaking hands with a former governor. Another showed him receiving an award for outstanding charitable leadership.
A large leather chair sat behind the desk.
Daniel looked around.
"Where's the computer?"
James pointed toward the desk.
"Victor usually keeps his laptop here."
But the desk was empty.
There was no laptop, no external hard drive, and no paperwork.
Victoria approached a filing cabinet.
"This looks strange."
She opened the top drawer.
It contained several ordinary folders.
The second drawer was empty.
The third had been locked.
Anthony examined it.
"Someone may have removed the contents."
Daniel walked toward a wooden cabinet behind the desk.
Richard had mentioned a locked cabinet containing backup files.
Daniel tried the handle.
It opened.
Inside were several folders, a small external drive, and a black leather document case.
James stepped closer.
"These are the original records."
Daniel carefully removed the first folder.
It contained contracts connected to Northbridge Consulting, Collins Strategic Solutions, and two other companies.
He opened another.
Inside were copies of bank transfer instructions.
Victoria looked at the documents.
"Why would Victor keep these here?"
"Because he probably believed nobody would look," Daniel replied.
Anthony took photographs of the contents before anyone moved them.
James opened the leather document case.
His expression changed.
"Daniel, look at this."
He handed him a printed authorization form.
The document carried James's signature and approved a transfer of four million dollars to the Sterling Community Development Trust.
Daniel examined it carefully.
"Is this your signature?"
James shook his head.
"No."
"Are you certain?"
"Absolutely. I never signed this document."
Daniel placed it beside the other records.
The signature looked convincing, but there was a small difference in the way James's surname had been written.
Someone had copied it from an earlier authorization.
Victoria photographed the document.
"Can this be used as evidence?"
"It can be preserved for forensic examination," Daniel replied. "We shouldn't assume anything until the original electronic records are examined."
James looked around the office.
"How could he do this?"
Daniel remained silent.
He was examining another folder.
Inside were several printed emails between Victor and an individual identified only as M. Reed.
One message contained a sentence that immediately caught his attention.
The chairman must remain unaware until the transfer has been completed.
Another message read:
The Carter situation is becoming difficult. We need to prevent him from accessing the original records.
Daniel read the messages twice.
James noticed his expression.
"What is it?"
Daniel showed him.
James slowly sat down.
"This is worse than I imagined."
Daniel continued examining the folder.
Then he discovered a list of bank accounts.
Most were associated with companies already under investigation.
However, one account belonged to an individual named Michael Reed.
Daniel recognized the name.
He had seen it in an earlier financial report.
"Do you know this person?" James asked.
"Not personally."
"Who is he?"
Daniel placed the paper on the desk.
"According to the records, he's a financial intermediary."
Victoria looked confused.
"What does that mean?"
"Someone who helps move money between different accounts or organizations. Sometimes legitimately. Sometimes not."
James frowned.
"Could he be the person organizing this?"
"Possibly."
Anthony approached with his radio.
"I've contacted the hotel's general manager. He wants us to secure the office and preserve everything."
"Good," James replied.
Then Victoria noticed something unusual.
A small red light was blinking on a device beneath the desk.
"What's that?"
Anthony crouched down.
He examined the device.
"It's an external network adapter."
Daniel looked at it.
"Could it be connected to the server?"
Anthony nodded.
"Possibly. But I don't want to disconnect it until our technical team examines it."
James walked toward the window.
For several seconds, he watched the city lights.
Then he turned around.
"Daniel, I need to ask you something."
"Go ahead."
"How much do you know about this Michael Reed?"
Daniel hesitated.
"Only what I've found in the financial records. But there's something strange about the name."
"What?"
Daniel opened his phone and searched through a collection of documents.
Then he found an old corporate report.
"Michael Reed was listed as a director of a company that received money from Carter Meridian Holdings seven years ago."
James frowned.
"Your company?"
"Yes."
"Was there a problem?"
Daniel's expression became serious.
"The company was investigated for fraud. I terminated the relationship and reported the irregularities."
Victoria looked at him.
"Are you saying someone connected to your old business dealings is now working with Victor?"
Daniel nodded slowly.
"That's what I need to establish."
Suddenly, Anthony's radio crackled.
A security officer's voice came through.
"Anthony, we have a situation at the east entrance. Mr. Lang is attempting to leave the property."
James immediately stood.
"Stop him."
Anthony raised his radio.
"Do not detain him unlawfully. Ask him to remain available for questioning and notify the hotel manager."
Daniel looked at the clock.
It was 10:03 p.m.
The midnight transfer was less than two hours away.
Victor had apparently realized that the executive office was no longer under his control.
But Daniel was beginning to suspect that the most dangerous part of the operation was not happening in the office.
It was happening somewhere outside the hotel.
And the person controlling it might be someone they had not yet identified.