Chapter 14 - THE DEBT PETER HIDPeter Voss had a twenty-one-year-old daughter named Leah, who was recovering from a serious accident. He had borrowed money for accessibility changes to their home when insurance payments were delayed. Nolan Ashford offered him a private bridge loan with generous terms.
"Then the interest doubled," Peter told Grace and Miriam, his attorney beside him. "Nolan said he'd forgive it if I approved consulting invoices."
"And you did," Miriam said.
"I told myself the vendors would deliver eventually. I knew I was lying."
He admitted authorizing five Eastline invoices without proof of delivery and allowing Victoria to use his office computer. He denied creating the forged signature image, but acknowledged seeing it on one draft contract and saying nothing. His lawyer told him to stop talking until a formal statement could be arranged.
Grace felt pity for Leah. She felt none for the decision to take money from children who slept on floors.
"I could have asked for help," Peter said. "I was too proud."
"Pride didn't type those approvals," Grace answered.
Adrián handed the information to the outside investigators and the authorities, with Peter's consent through counsel. The foundation began recovering any remaining funds through proper legal channels; nobody was promised a quick return.
Meanwhile, Rosebridge's temporary occupancy agreement was signed for sixty days. A coalition of local nonprofits committed emergency rent support, provided the foundation published verified monthly reports. Paula called with the news and cried from exhaustion, not joy.
At the office, Lana found another oddity. Three of Peter's disputed invoices had been approved using his own credentials. Two were submitted while his daughter was in the hospital, and his location data put him with her.
"Who used the system then?" Adrián asked.
Milo opened a secure backup. The login came from a laptop assigned to Malcolm Price.
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And attached to the last transfer was a handwritten instruction: MAKE GRACE THE FINAL SIGNER.
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