Chapter 7: The $250,000 Lie
Daniel stared at the bank statement as though the paper might suddenly explain itself.
Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
Transferred from Carter Development Group to an offshore consultancy called Meridian Advisory.
The authorization carried his signature.
The date was two days before our engagement party.
And according to the document, the transfer had been approved personally by him.
“That's not my signature,” Daniel repeated.
Richard adjusted his cufflinks.
“I'm afraid the bank disagrees.””
Daniel looked up.
“Which bank?””
“Your company's financial institution.””
“Then I'll contact them.””
Richard gave a small, satisfied smile.
“By all means.””
I stepped between them.
“Why would you forge a payment authorization?””
Richard's expression hardened.
“Be careful with your accusations, Emma.””
“I'm looking at a transfer that Daniel says he never approved.””
“Perhaps he has forgotten.””
Daniel slammed the paper onto the table.
“I don't forget authorizing a quarter of a million dollars.””
Richard didn't flinch.
“Then perhaps you should ask your finance director.””
Daniel immediately pulled out his phone.
“I'm calling James.””
Richard's eyes narrowed.
“That's unnecessary.””
Daniel ignored him.
The call connected.
“James, it's Daniel. I need you to check a transaction immediately.””
He listened.
“Meridian Advisory. Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Two days before the engagement party.””
A pause.
“Was it authorized by me?””
His expression changed.
“Send me the original authorization. Not the scanned copy. I want the bank's transaction record.””
He ended the call.
I watched him.
“What did he say?””
“James doesn't recognize the payment.””
“Then why did it go through?””
Daniel looked at Richard.
“Because someone used my electronic authorization credentials.””
Richard smiled.
“That's a serious allegation.””
Daniel took a step toward him.
“And you're going to explain it.””
Richard closed his folder.
“I have nothing more to say.””
He walked toward the door.
Ryan stepped in front of him.
“Not so fast.””
Richard stopped.
“Move.””
“Not until you explain why you forged my sister's signature.””
Richard looked at Ryan with open irritation.
“Your sister has a habit of involving herself in matters she doesn't understand.””
I felt something inside me snap.
“Get out.””
He turned.
“Excuse me?””
“You heard me. Get out of my wedding venue.””
Richard laughed.
“You think you can dismiss me?””
“No. I think you should leave before the police arrive.””
For the first time, he looked genuinely concerned.
Then he glanced toward the windows.
A black sedan had pulled into the driveway.
Two men stepped out.
One wore a dark suit.
The other carried a briefcase.
Richard's expression changed immediately.
He walked past Ryan without another word.
I watched him cross the hallway.
Then the man with the briefcase entered the conference room.
“Mr. Carter?””
Daniel turned.
“Who are you?””
“My name is Andrew Bell. I'm representing Meridian Advisory.””
I looked at Daniel.
The man placed a document on the table.
“We've been informed that there may be a dispute concerning a recent transfer.””
Daniel stared at him.
“Who informed you?””
“Mr. Hale.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
Andrew opened his briefcase.
“Before this goes any further, we'd like to clarify that Meridian received the funds in good faith.””
“From whom?”” Daniel asked.
“Carter Development Group.””
“Who authorized the payment?””
Andrew looked at his papers.
“Mr. Carter.””
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“That's interesting, considering I didn't.””
Andrew remained composed.
“We have a signed authorization.””
“Then show me the original.””
Andrew hesitated.
“The original is held by our banking partner.””
“Then provide the bank reference.””
“I'll need to confirm that.””
Daniel leaned forward.
“You have five minutes.””
Andrew closed the briefcase.
“Mr. Carter, I suggest you obtain independent legal advice before making further statements.””
He left.
I stared at Daniel.
“Do they know Richard?””
“Yes.””
“How?””
“Meridian has been involved in several financing arrangements with his company.””
“Your company?””
“No. Richard's consulting business.””
I looked toward the hallway.
Richard had disappeared.
Ryan checked his phone.
“Security says he's gone.””
Daniel rubbed his face.
“Damn it.””
I placed a hand on his shoulder.
“What's happening?””
He looked at me.
“I think someone has been using my company to move money.””
“Why would they?””
“Because Carter Development has legitimate transactions with several international partners. A payment like that wouldn't immediately attract attention.””
I looked at the statement.
“Could it be connected to Northbridge?””
“Possibly.””
He picked up his phone again.
“James is calling.””
Daniel answered.
“Tell me.””
I watched his expression change.
Then he said:
“Don't touch anything. Freeze the payment authorization system and preserve every access log.””
He listened.
“Who approved the vendor registration?””
Another pause.
“James, listen to me. I want the complete audit trail.””
He ended the call.
“What?”” I asked.
“Meridian was added as an approved supplier six weeks ago.””
“By whom?””
Daniel looked at me.
“Someone using my credentials.””
I felt sick.
“Could it have been Vanessa?””
“Maybe. But the access logs will tell us.””
My phone vibrated.
Julia.
*I found the person who registered Meridian.*
A second message followed.
*It was Richard's assistant, Peter Lawson.*
I showed Daniel.
He frowned.
“Peter?””
“You know him?””
“He worked with Richard for years. He handled several joint commercial projects.””
I typed back.
How do you know?
Julia replied:
Because I saw him at the office the night the Northbridge figures were changed.
Then another message appeared.
*He wasn't alone.*
I stared at the screen.
Who was with him?
The answer arrived.
*Your wedding planner, Sarah.*
I turned toward the doorway.
Sarah was still standing there, trembling.
“Sarah?””
She looked up.
“Emma?””
“Did you register Meridian Advisory as a supplier for Carter Development?””
Her face drained of color.
“No.””
“Julia says she saw you with Peter Lawson.””
Sarah began shaking her head.
“I didn't know what he was doing.””
“Then tell me what you were doing there.””
She looked at Daniel.
Then at me.
“I was delivering something.””
“What?””
“A document envelope.””
My stomach tightened.
“What document?””
Sarah swallowed.
“Richard said it contained the updated ceremony arrangements.””
I stared at her.
“You delivered company documents?””
“I didn't know what they were.””
“Where did you take them?””
“To Richard's office.””
“When?””
“Six weeks ago.””
I looked at Daniel.
The same time Meridian had been registered.
“Sarah, did you see anyone else?””
She nodded.
“Peter was there. And Vanessa.””
I felt my jaw tighten.
“What was Vanessa doing?””
“She was photographing documents on Richard's desk.””
My blood went cold.
“What documents?””
Sarah looked down.
“I think they were financial reports.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Did you see the company name?””
Sarah hesitated.
“Carter Development.””
Daniel closed his eyes.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then he asked, “Why didn't you tell anyone?””
Sarah started crying.
“Richard told me it was harmless. He said they were preparing a joint investment proposal. He said if I helped him, he'd make sure I got a permanent events contract.””
I looked at her.
“You helped him because he promised you more business?””
She nodded.
“And you knew he was trying to destroy my wedding?””
“No. I swear I didn't know about the wedding until yesterday.””
I stared at her.
“Yesterday, you changed the ceremony arrangements.””
“He told me it was because of the legal investigation.””
“Sarah, you were supposed to be my wedding planner.””
“I know.””
“You were supposed to protect this day.””
“I know.””
I looked away.
I couldn't bear to hear another apology.
Daniel's phone rang again.
James.
He answered.
“Go ahead.””
His expression changed.
“What do you mean the account has been frozen?””
I stepped closer.
Daniel listened.
Then he said:
“Who requested the freeze?””
A pause.
“On what grounds?””
His eyes moved toward me.
Then he whispered:
“That's impossible.””
He ended the call.
“What happened?”” I asked.
“Carter Development's bank has frozen the disputed amount.””
“Can they do that?””
“During an investigation, yes.””
“That's good, isn't it?””
He shook his head.
“Not entirely. The account was frozen because someone reported suspected unauthorized transfers.””
“Who?””
Daniel looked at me.
“Me.””
I frowned.
“You didn't make that report.””
“No.””
“Then who did?””
He turned his phone toward me.
The bank notification showed the name of the reporting party.
*Emma Collins.*
I stared at it.
My name.
My employee identification number.
And a digital authorization that I had never submitted.
Someone had used my identity to accuse Daniel's company of financial misconduct.
I looked up.
Richard was no longer in the building.
But his plan was still moving.
My phone rang.
An unfamiliar number.
I answered.
“Hello?””
A man's voice spoke.
“Ms. Collins, this is Detective Harris with the financial crimes unit.””
My heart dropped.
“Yes?””
“We need to speak with you regarding a report filed against Carter Development Group.””
I looked at Daniel.
He was watching me.
The detective continued.
“Your name appears on the authorization documents.””
I swallowed.
“Those documents are forged.””
“That's what we'd like to establish.””
“I'm happy to cooperate.””
“Good. But there's something else.””
I gripped the phone.
“What?””
“The report includes evidence suggesting that you transferred confidential Northbridge information to Mr. Carter in exchange for a financial benefit.””
My stomach turned.
“That never happened.””
“We understand. However, the allegation is serious.””
“Who filed the report?””
A pause.
Then Detective Harris answered.
“Your employer, Mr. Richard Hale.””
I closed my eyes.
Daniel took my hand.
The detective continued.
“Ms. Collins, we have also received information that a significant amount of money may have been transferred into an account associated with you.””
I felt the room spin.
“What account?””
“An account ending in 4821.””
I didn't recognize the number.
“I don't have an account ending in those digits.””
The detective paused.
Then he said:
“According to the bank, the account was opened in your name three months ago.””
I looked at Daniel.
Three months ago.
The same period Vanessa had begun taking over my wedding arrangements.
The same period Richard had started discussing my future at the company.
The same period someone had begun accessing my professional files.
“Detective,” I said carefully, “I think someone has stolen my identity.””
“That's possible. But we need to establish who had access to your personal information.””
I thought of Vanessa.
Her visits to my apartment.
Her access to my laptop.
Her knowledge of my passwords.
Then I remembered something else.
My passport.
My tax documents.
The folder I'd given Vanessa when she offered to help with the wedding venue paperwork.
She'd said she needed my identification details for the hotel booking.
I'd handed them over without hesitation.
I closed my eyes.
“Detective, I believe I know who had access.””
“Who?””
I looked toward Ryan.
Then Daniel.
“Vanessa Reed.””
The detective was silent.
Finally, he said:
“Ms. Collins, Vanessa Reed is already being questioned.””
My stomach tightened.
“About what?””
“An attempted financial transfer made earlier this morning.””
I felt my fingers go numb.
“What transfer?””
May you like
The detective's answer changed everything.
“Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars was scheduled to be moved from the account opened in your name into a private account belonging to Mr. Hale.””
