"Do you still have the original files?"
"All of them."
"Every transaction?"
"Every single one."
"Good."
Rebecca lowered her voice.
"Ethan, there's something else."
"What?"
"I found the original authorization records."
"Whose signature?"
"Daniel Price."
Ethan stopped walking.
"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely. He approved the transfers himself."
"Send everything to the external server."
"I already did."
Ethan took a deep breath.
"Then we have what we need."
Rebecca hesitated.
"Are you going to confront Eleanor?"
"Not yet."
"What are you planning?"
Ethan looked up at the towering building.
"I'm going to let them believe they've won."
CHAPTER 5: THE WOMAN WHO DID NOT KNOW THE TRUTH
Eleanor Harrison remained in the conference room after everyone else had left.
She stared at the empty chair where Ethan had been sitting.
Something about the situation bothered her.
Ethan had never behaved like a dishonest employee.
He had worked late nights, helped struggling departments, and regularly defended employees who were about to lose their jobs.
She remembered when he had donated his annual bonus to help a colleague whose child needed surgery.
Could that same man really have stolen twelve million dollars?
Marcus entered.
"Everything has been handled."
Eleanor looked up.
"Where is he?"
"Security escorted him out."
"Did he say anything?"
"He threatened us."
Eleanor frowned.
"What exactly did he say?"
"That we would regret this."
She looked toward the window.
"Did he receive medical attention?"
Marcus shrugged.
"He refused assistance."
"His face was bleeding."
"He became aggressive."
Eleanor looked at him.
"Marcus, I asked a simple question."
Marcus adjusted his tie.
"He'll be fine."
Eleanor remained silent.
After a moment, she said:
"I want the investigation completed by tomorrow."
Marcus nodded.
"Of course."
"And I want the original financial records."
"Daniel is preparing them."
Eleanor looked directly at him.
"Do not give me summaries. I want the original documents."
Marcus smiled.
"Certainly."
He left the room.
But as soon as the door closed, his expression changed.
He took out his phone.
SHE'S ASKING FOR THE ORIGINAL RECORDS. WE NEED TO FINISH THIS TONIGHT.
Daniel replied almost immediately.
THE TRANSFER IS ALREADY UNDERWAY. ONCE THE MONEY IS MOVED, THERE WILL BE NOTHING LEFT TO TRACE.
Marcus typed:
AND WHAT ABOUT ETHAN?
Daniel answered:
HE WON'T BE A PROBLEM.
Neither man realized that Rebecca had already copied their messages from a company device.
CHAPTER 6: THE SECRET FILE
The next morning, Ethan arrived at a small office in Brooklyn.
The building belonged to an independent forensic accounting firm.
Rebecca Stone was waiting for him.
She was thirty-two years old, an experienced financial investigator, and one of the few people Ethan completely trusted.
She placed a laptop on the table.
"Before we do anything, you need to see this."
Ethan sat down.
Rebecca opened a folder.
The first document showed a list of suspicious transactions.