Chapter 7 - The Night Rachel Left Early
Ethan crossed the hall toward Harold.
“What did you get?”
Harold locked his phone too late.
Ethan held out his hand. “Show me.”
“Ethan, this is getting out of control.”
“Show me.”
Harold finally handed it over.
The message was different.
TELL HIM ABOUT 9:17 P.M.
Ethan looked up. “What happened at 9:17?”
Harold’s face sagged.
Claire stepped between them. “This is clearly someone trying to manipulate all of us.”
“Move,” Ethan said.
She did not.
Daniel moved to Ethan’s side.
Claire stepped away.
Harold exhaled. “Rachel confronted me at the gala.”
“About what?”
“Company transfers. Payments that should not have existed.”
Ethan’s head snapped up. “What payments?”
Harold looked toward Leonard.
The attorney’s face showed surprise this time.
“Rachel had been reviewing foundation expenses,” Harold continued. “She found consulting fees paid through two shell companies. She believed someone on the executive team was stealing.”
“How much?”
“Roughly three million.”
Ethan felt anger rise. “Why did no one tell me?”
“Because Rachel asked me for forty-eight hours. She said she wanted proof before she involved you.”
“Then she died.”
Harold nodded.
“What happened at 9:17?”
“She received a call. I don’t know who from. She turned pale, grabbed her coat, and left.”
Ethan stared at him. “She drove herself?”
“No. That’s the part I never understood.”
A chill moved down Ethan’s back.
Harold continued. “A black SUV picked her up at the service entrance.”
Ethan’s voice barely came out. “Her car was found at the crash.”
“I know.”
Ethan’s mind raced.
If Rachel left the gala in an SUV, how did her car end up smashed against a guardrail forty minutes later?
Daniel immediately pulled out his phone. “I’m calling the detective from the accident case.”
Claire suddenly turned toward the front doors.
Two uniformed police officers walked in.
Ethan assumed Daniel had called ahead.
Then one officer looked directly at Mara.
“Mara Ellis?”
She stood slowly.
“Yes?”
“You need to come with us.”
Ethan stepped forward. “For what?”
The officer held up a warrant.
“For the theft of confidential documents from Cole Meridian Holdings and suspected financial fraud.”
May you like
Claire lowered her eyes.
And Ethan realized she was smiling.
