For the first time, she began to understand why her father had been so concerned during the previous evening's discussion.
The argument had not simply been about Marcus wanting more authority.
It might have been about something he was trying to prevent Arthur from discovering.
Eleanor: "Dad, do you think Marcus has done something deliberately?"
Arthur looked toward the window.
Arthur: "I do not know yet."
Eleanor: "What if he has?"
Arthur: "Then we will have to face it."
Eleanor covered her face briefly.
She was trying to reconcile two different images of her son.
The boy who had once followed his grandfather around the garden, asking endless questions about how businesses worked.
And the man who had stood in the hallway the previous evening, gripping an elderly relative's clothing because he could not accept being challenged.
Arthur watched her carefully.
Arthur: "Eleanor, I need you to understand something. This investigation is not about destroying Marcus."
Eleanor looked up.
Arthur: "It is about protecting the truth, the company, and everyone who depends on it."
Eleanor: "I understand."
Arthur: "I hope he understands that too."
Later that afternoon, Richard returned with an independent financial specialist named Helen Carter.
Helen had extensive experience examining corporate transactions and identifying irregularities in financial records.
She was professional, careful, and entirely unfamiliar with the family's internal disagreements.
Arthur had specifically requested someone who would approach the matter without personal bias.
Helen placed her laptop on the conference table and began reviewing the documents.
She examined the dates, payment instructions, approval records, and correspondence between the different companies.
At first, the information appeared complicated but manageable.
However, after comparing several transactions, she noticed a pattern.
Certain payments had been approved shortly before important deadlines.
Some supporting documents had been submitted after the payments were completed.
And several authorizations appeared to rely on instructions from Marcus rather than direct confirmation from Arthur.
Helen: "Mr. Bennett, may I ask you something?"
Arthur: "Of course."
Helen: "Were you personally involved in the negotiations for these projects?"
Arthur: "I was aware of some of them, but I did not approve every financial commitment."
Helen: "Did you authorize Marcus to sign documents on your behalf?"
Arthur: "Only within clearly defined limits."
Helen: "Were those limits documented?"
Arthur: "Yes. They were included in his internal authorization."
Helen looked at the paperwork.
Helen: "Then we need to compare every transaction against that authorization."
Richard nodded.
Richard: "That is precisely what we need."
Helen continued reviewing the records.
After approximately forty minutes, she identified another document that required closer examination.
It was a letter sent to an outside business partner.
The letter stated that Marcus had received approval from Arthur to negotiate and finalize a financial commitment on behalf of the family.
But the authorization attached to the letter appeared incomplete.
Helen enlarged the document on her screen.
Helen: "This is interesting."
Arthur leaned forward.
Arthur: "What have you found?"
Helen: "The authorization number does not match the numbering sequence in the company's records."
Richard moved closer.
Richard: "Could it be an administrative error?"
Helen: "Possibly. But I have also noticed that the document was created using a different template from the company's standard authorization forms."
Arthur stared at the screen.
Helen: "I would not draw a conclusion yet. We need the original electronic file and the submission history."
Arthur: "Can you determine who prepared it?"
Helen: "If the original file and system records are available, we may be able to establish that."
Richard: "Then that should be our next step."
Arthur nodded.
He felt increasingly certain that the financial review would reveal more than simple administrative mistakes.
But he was determined not to reach a conclusion prematurely.
The meeting continued.
They examined several other transactions and prepared a list of individuals who might have relevant information.
By late afternoon, Helen had identified multiple questions that required further investigation.
She closed her laptop and looked at Arthur.
Helen: "I recommend that we preserve all original electronic records and temporarily suspend any additional payments connected to the disputed projects until the documents have been verified."
Arthur: "Agreed."
Richard: "We should also notify the finance department that no one may process exceptional payments without direct written authorization."
Arthur: "Do it."
Helen gathered her documents.
Before leaving, she made one final observation.
Helen: "There is something else I would like to mention."
Arthur looked at her.
Helen: "Several of these transactions involve a company that appears repeatedly in the correspondence. I would like to examine its ownership structure and the people who have been communicating with Marcus."
Arthur's expression became more serious.
Arthur: "Why?"
Helen: "Because the same contact appears in multiple projects, even though the transactions were presented as separate business arrangements."
Richard looked toward Arthur.
Richard: "That could be significant."
Arthur nodded slowly.
Arthur: "Find out who is behind it."
Helen: "I will."
After Helen left, Richard remained in the conference room.
Richard: "Arthur, I think we should prepare for the possibility that this situation is more complicated than we initially expected."
Arthur looked at the documents spread across the table.
Arthur: "I have the same concern."