For several seconds, nobody inside the executive conference room moved.
Daniel Carter stood beside the table, staring at the document Patricia Monroe had placed in front of him.
The receiving account was registered to the Carter Educational Development Trust, an organization that had been established years earlier to support educational programs in disadvantaged American communities.
Daniel had personally funded the trust, but he had never authorized it to receive money from the Sterling Foundation.
More importantly, the account number printed on the document was unfamiliar.
"Patricia, where did you get this?" he asked.
"From the original compliance archive. It was attached to a transaction report that Victor submitted last month."
Daniel picked up the document.
"Did you verify the account?"
"I checked the registration information. The trust is listed as the beneficiary, but I couldn't establish who controls the account."
Daniel turned toward James.
"Has the foundation ever transferred money to my trust?"
James shook his head.
"Not to my knowledge."
"Has Victor ever proposed a partnership between our organizations?"
"Several times. You declined every proposal because you wanted to maintain separate financial oversight."
Daniel nodded.
"That's correct."
Victoria looked confused.
"Why would someone create an account using your organization's name?"
Daniel answered immediately.
"Because they want the transfer to look legitimate."
Patricia opened another folder.
"There's something else. The account was registered using documents that appear to have been copied from your trust's original incorporation records."
Daniel examined the paperwork.
His jaw tightened.
"These are not the documents we submitted."
"What's different?" James asked.
"The original trust was established in Delaware. This account was registered through a separate financial services provider in New York."
Daniel pointed toward the signature section.
"That's not my signature."
Patricia nodded.
"I suspected as much."
Daniel studied the page.
The signature was convincing enough to deceive someone who did not know his handwriting. But the final letter in his surname had been formed incorrectly.
He recognized the mistake immediately.
"Whoever created this account had access to our public documents, but they didn't have access to the original authorization files."
Victoria looked toward Anthony.
"Can the hotel's systems show who accessed the financial office?"
Anthony shook his head.
"Only the hotel's security records. The foundation's internal network is separate."
Daniel took out his phone.
He called Michael Reeves.
Michael answered after two rings.
"Daniel?"
"I need you to verify an account immediately. It's registered under the Carter Educational Development Trust."
There was a pause.
"Are you looking at the Sterling transaction?"
"Yes. The transfer is scheduled for midnight."
Michael's tone changed.
"That's bad."
"Why?"
"Because I found another company connected to the same account. It was used to receive money from a construction project in Chicago."
Daniel closed his eyes briefly.
"How much?"
"Approximately six hundred thousand dollars."
"Was it transferred?"
"Yes. Three weeks ago."
James stepped closer.
"Ask him where the money went."
Daniel placed the phone on speaker.
Michael continued.
"The funds were moved through two intermediary accounts. One belongs to a company called Meridian Strategic Services."
Daniel frowned.
"That name sounds familiar."
"It should. The company was incorporated using an address associated with one of your former business partners."
Daniel became completely still.
"Who?"
"Michael Reed."
The room fell silent.
Patricia looked at Daniel.
"Is that the man you mentioned earlier?"
Daniel nodded slowly.
Michael continued.
"There's more. Reed's company was previously investigated for financial fraud. Your company terminated its relationship with him seven years ago."
Daniel stared at the document.
"Why would he be working with Victor?"
"That's what I'm trying to determine."
Daniel looked toward James.
"Can you freeze the foundation's outgoing transfers?"
James nodded.
"I can authorize an emergency suspension."
"Do it."
James took out his phone and called the foundation's banking representative.
While he spoke, Patricia examined another document.
"Daniel, I think Victor may be using your identity to conceal the movement of money."
Daniel nodded.
"That would explain the false account."
Victoria looked increasingly worried.
"But why would he choose your trust?"
Daniel answered quietly.
"Because I have publicly supported education programs for years. A transfer to an organization with my name would not immediately attract suspicion."
Patricia added, "And if the money disappeared, the foundation could claim that the funds had been distributed through an approved charitable partnership."
James ended his call.
"The bank has been notified. They're reviewing the transfer request."
Daniel looked at him.
"Have they confirmed the suspension?"
"Not yet."
"Then we still have a problem."
At that moment, James's phone vibrated.
An email had arrived from the foundation's legal department.
He opened it.
His expression changed.
"What is it?" Victoria asked.
James turned the screen around.
The email contained a formal complaint accusing Daniel Carter of attempting to interfere with the foundation's financial operations.
It also alleged that Daniel had requested confidential donor information without authorization.
The complaint had been submitted using Victor Lang's executive credentials.
Daniel read the document.
Then he laughed quietly.
James looked surprised.
"What's funny?"
"He's trying to reverse the situation."
Daniel placed the phone down.
"He's creating a record that makes me look like the person responsible for the financial irregularities."
Patricia nodded.
"If the transfer goes through, he can argue that you had access to the funds and benefited from the transaction."
Victoria looked horrified.
"That's deliberate character assassination."
"Yes," Daniel replied.
He opened another file on his laptop.
"Fortunately, there's one thing Victor doesn't know."
James leaned closer.
"What?"
Daniel looked around the room.
"My company has been monitoring suspicious financial activity connected to these accounts for nearly three months. We have independent records, transaction timestamps, and communications from several individuals."
He paused.
"And Michael Reed made one critical mistake."
Patricia asked, "What mistake?"
Daniel turned the laptop toward them.
"He used the same financial intermediary in a transaction seven years ago."
The screen displayed an old investigation report.
Daniel pointed to a name.
"Michael Reed was removed from our business network after attempting to redirect company funds through an unauthorized account. I reported him personally."
James stared at the screen.
"Then he has a history of doing this."
"Yes."
Daniel closed the laptop.
"And if Victor is working with him, we may finally have the missing connection."
A sudden knock interrupted the conversation.
Anthony opened the door.
A security officer stood outside.
"Mr. Brooks, there's someone downstairs asking to speak with Mr. Carter."
"Who?"
The officer hesitated.
"He says his name is Michael Reed."
Daniel slowly stood.
For the first time that evening, his expression became noticeably colder.
"Tell him I'll meet him."
James immediately objected.
"Daniel, that man may be dangerous."
Daniel adjusted his jacket.
"Then we should find out why he's here."
He walked toward the door.
Behind him, Patricia quietly whispered to James:
"Be careful. Michael Reed is not the kind of man who comes to a charity auction without a reason."