Chapter 13 - The Bookkeeper's Drawer
The sender was Tessa Bell, a contract accountant who had worked for the foundation for four years. She insisted on meeting Priya in her office rather than coming to Jada's apartment.
"I don't want my name leaked," Tessa said. "I have kids and a mortgage."
Priya explained that confidentiality could be protected where possible but not guaranteed. Tessa agreed to provide records voluntarily and seek independent counsel before making a formal statement.
Her ledger showed two hundred forty thousand dollars in pledges associated with the gala. Only part had reached the foundation. Four thirty-thousand-dollar placement fees had flowed into North Quay Strategies. Separately, eighty-six thousand dollars in existing program funds had been transferred for "digital transition consulting."
"Who approved that?" Jada asked.
Tessa turned her laptop. "Martin's finance authority and Claire's vendor confirmation. I flagged the mismatch twice."
"And?"
"They told me to fix the description, not the money."
The final entry was worse. A restricted grant earmarked for artist stipends had been pledged as security for Riverton Landing's construction option. If the foundation defaulted, the developer could claim repayment from money already promised to residents.
Priya made copies through a forensic process and recorded how Tessa had obtained the documents. Jada did not touch the original drive.
"This isn't a check we're waiting for," Priya said. "It is money that may have been used twice."
Jada pictured Salma with her boxes in a borrowed hallway. She pictured Min paying workers on credit. Behind every number was somebody who had planned a life around a promise.
Tessa closed her laptop. "There is one more payment request. It hasn't cleared."
"To whom?"
May you like
"A private investigator hired to find out where Eleanor keeps the original deed. It's scheduled for tomorrow morning."
