Chapter 13 - The Man Behind the Plan
Veronica was at a private airfield outside the city.
With her was the financial consultant from the emails.
Graham Pike.
I knew the name.
He had once advised Dad’s company on an acquisition.
Dad knew more.
“He was fired six years ago,” he said.
“For what?” I asked.
“Inflating vendor invoices.”
“Did Veronica know him?”
“I didn’t think so.”
The police did not let us go to the airfield.
We waited at the hospital while officers moved in.
Forty-seven minutes later, the detective called.
Veronica had been taken into custody for questioning.
Graham had tried to leave in a chartered plane.
He did not make it off the ground.
They found cash.
Multiple passports.
One was mine.
And a folder containing copies of my signature.
Madison started shaking.
Dad sat beside her.
“It’s over.”
She looked at him.
“No, it’s not.”
She pointed at the laptop.
“There are more emails.”
We opened them.
One thread involved a shell company.
Another involved company funds.
Then we found something worse.
Veronica had not acted alone inside Dad’s business.
Someone with executive access had approved transfers.
Initials: P.B.
Dad stared at the screen.
“No.”
“Who is P.B.?” I asked.
He did not answer.
“Dad.”
“My brother.”
I had only met Uncle Peter a handful of times in recent years.
He and Dad had started the company together.
They had also fought constantly.
Still, Dad had defended him.
Family, he always said.
The word felt poisonous now.
Dad called Peter.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
Then Peter called back.
“Richard.”
Dad put him on speaker.
“Where are you?”
“At home.”
“Did you approve transfers to Northline Strategic?”
Silence.
“Peter.”
“You don’t understand.”
Madison and I looked at each other.
Dad’s voice cracked.
“How much?”
“Richard—”
“How much?”
“About one point eight.”
Million.
Dad closed his eyes.
Peter rushed on.
I felt sick.
“You stole from Claire?”
Peter’s voice went quiet.
“I didn’t know the account was hers.”
Dad laughed once.
A terrible sound.
“Then whose did you think it was?”
Peter did not answer.
Dad ended the call.
A second later, a new email appeared on his screen.
From Peter.
One attachment.
One message.
I’m sorry. You need to know what she planned for tomorrow.
Dad opened the attachment.
It was a draft press release.
May you like
The headline made my blood run cold.
RICHARD BENNETT TO STEP DOWN AFTER MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.
