Chapter 9: The Betrayal Inside My Own Office
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
The photograph remained displayed on Michael's phone.
Daniel stood near the storage facility entrance.
Beside him was a man wearing a dark jacket.
The face was unmistakable.
Michael Turner.
The same man who had helped me build Reed Meridian.
The same man who had supposedly stopped Daniel's six-million-dollar transfer.
I looked at him.
"Explain.""
Michael didn't move.
"Marcus, I can explain.""
"Then start talking.""
Eleanor closed the conference room door.
Olivia moved toward the wall.
Michael placed his phone on the desk.
"That photograph is misleading.""
I stared at him.
"Are you telling me you weren't there?""
"I was.""
"Then what's misleading?""
"I went there to confront Daniel.""
"When?""
"Last night.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
He rubbed his forehead.
"Because I was trying to recover the original records before he destroyed them.""
I stepped closer.
"Did you know the facility was going to burn?""
"No!""
"Did you know about the money?""
Michael hesitated.
That hesitation was enough to make me angry.
"How long?""
He lowered his eyes.
"Marcus, please.""
"How long have you known?""
"Seven years.""
The room went silent.
I felt something inside me break.
"Seven years?""
Michael nodded.
"Your father asked me to monitor certain transactions before he died.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because he asked me to protect you.""
"From what?""
Michael took a breath.
"From Daniel. And from Richard Whitmore.""
I looked at Eleanor.
She appeared equally shocked.
"Explain everything," I said.
Michael pulled out a chair but didn't sit.
"Seven years ago, Reed Meridian was still a relatively small company. Your father had secured a development loan for a commercial property outside Atlanta.""
I remembered the project.
It was our first major development.
The one that had transformed the company.
Michael continued.
"Richard Whitmore approached Daniel with a proposal. He wanted to become a silent investor.""
"Why?""
"Because he knew the property was going to increase significantly in value.""
"And?""
"Daniel agreed to transfer part of the acquisition funds into a company controlled by Whitmore.""
I clenched my jaw.
"How much?""
"Two million, three hundred thousand dollars.""
"And my father found out?""
"Yes.""
Michael looked at Eleanor.
"He discovered the missing money and confronted Daniel. Then he asked me to preserve the transaction records.""
I turned back toward him.
"Did you?""
"Yes.""
"Where are they?""
"Not at the storage facility.""
"Where?""
Michael looked at Olivia.
She slowly stepped forward.
"My mother kept copies.""
I stared at her.
"Where?""
Olivia opened her handbag and removed a small envelope.
"She gave these to me before she died.""
Inside were photocopies of bank transfers, company registrations, and handwritten account notes.
Michael examined the documents.
His expression changed.
"These are the original transaction references.""
Eleanor leaned over his shoulder.
"Then the money can be traced.""
Michael nodded.
"Yes.""
I looked at him.
"Why didn't you tell me about this seven years ago?""
"Because your father believed Daniel could still change.""
"And you believed that too?""
Michael lowered his eyes.
"I believed your father.""
I turned away.
The betrayal was becoming almost impossible to process.
First Vanessa.
Then Daniel.
Then Richard Whitmore.
Now Michael.
How many people around me had been keeping secrets?
"Did you help Daniel with the recent fraud?""
Michael looked directly at me.
"No.""
"Did you sign anything?""
"No.""
"Did you transfer money?""
"No.""
"Then why were you at the storage facility?""
"Because Daniel called me. He said he had the original trust documents and wanted to meet.""
I stared at him.
"What did he want?""
"He wanted me to help him access the company accounts.""
"And when you refused?""
"He threatened to release documents that could make it look like I had participated in the old transfers.""
I studied his face.
"Did you?""
Michael's silence returned.
"Michael.""
He finally answered.
"I signed one authorization seven years ago.""
My stomach tightened.
"What authorization?""
"Your father asked me to release a payment to a company registered in your mother's name. He told me it was necessary to recover money Daniel had already moved.""
"Did you verify it?""
"No.""
"Why not?""
"Because I trusted your father.""
I stepped back.
The realization was devastating.
Even the people who had tried to protect me had made decisions without telling me.
And those decisions had created the very mess I was now trying to unravel.
Eleanor gathered the documents.
"Marcus, we need to involve independent investigators. These records could establish a pattern of fraudulent transfers.""
I nodded.
"Contact our attorneys.""
Michael looked at me.
"What about Daniel?""
"We find him.""
He shook his head.
"There's something you should know.""
"What?""
"Daniel called me before the fire.""
I stared at him.
"What did he say?""
"He told me Richard Whitmore was planning to leave the country.""
"Why?""
"Because the university project was only one part of the operation.""
I looked at the documents.
"What's the other part?""
Michael pointed to an account number on the last page.
"Your father's estate.""
I frowned.
"Explain.""
"After your father died, a large amount of money was moved out of his personal investment accounts. The transactions were approved using documents bearing your mother's signature.""
"But she was already dead.""
"Exactly.""
I felt sick.
"How much?""
"Approximately eleven million dollars.""
Eleanor looked at the account number.
Then she slowly sat down.
"That's impossible.""
I turned toward her.
"What?""
She examined the document again.
"That account belongs to the Patricia Reed Family Foundation.""
I stared.
"My mother had a foundation?""
Eleanor nodded.
"Your father established it after her death. It was supposed to fund scholarships for disadvantaged students.""
Michael checked the transaction dates.
"According to these records, the foundation was emptied in stages over five years.""
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
Eleven million dollars intended for students had disappeared.
"Who received the money?""
Michael pointed to the final line.
A company called Whitmore Global Holdings.
I looked at Eleanor.
"Can we recover it?""
"Possibly. But we need to locate the current account holder.""
Olivia suddenly spoke.
"I know where it went.""
Everyone turned.
She reached into her bag and pulled out a small folded piece of paper.
"My mother found this in Daniel's office before she died.""
I opened it.
There was a bank address in Savannah and a name written beneath it.
*Thomas Bennett.*
The former accountant.
The man Olivia had mentioned earlier.
I looked at her.
"Is he still alive?""
She nodded.
"Yes. My mother spoke to him six months ago.""
"Where is he?""
"At a retirement community outside Savannah.""
I picked up my phone.
"Get me his contact information.""
Olivia gave me the address.
I immediately called our attorney.
But before I could finish explaining, my phone buzzed again.
An incoming call.
Vanessa Collins.
I almost ignored it.
Then a message appeared.
Marcus, I know where Daniel is.
A second message followed.
But you need to come alone.
I stared at the screen.
Michael noticed my expression.
"What is it?""
I showed him.
Eleanor immediately shook her head.
"Don't go anywhere alone.""
I called Vanessa.
She answered after one ring.
"Marcus?""
"Where is Daniel?""
Her breathing was uneven.
"At a private warehouse near the airport.""
"Why are you there?""
"He contacted me.""
"What does he want?""
She hesitated.
"He says he has proof that Richard Whitmore planned everything.""
"Then send me the documents.""
"I can't.""
"Why?""
Her voice cracked.
"Because Daniel says if I give you the evidence, he'll tell the police what I did with the money.""
I closed my eyes.
"Vanessa, you need to tell me the truth.""
"I know.""
"Are you in danger?""
Silence.
Then she whispered:
"Marcus, he's not alone.""
I stood.
"Who is with him?""
Her answer made my blood run cold.
"Your brother is with Richard Whitmore.""
A loud crash came through the phone.
Vanessa screamed.
Then the call disconnected.
I immediately dialed her number again.
No answer.
I looked at Michael.
"Get the security team.""
Eleanor grabbed her briefcase.
"Marcus, wait for the authorities.""
But I was already moving toward the elevator.
Because whatever Daniel had planned, one thing was now certain.
My brother wasn't running anymore.
May you like
He was preparing for the final move.
And Vanessa might be the only person standing between him and the truth.
