Chapter 16 - THE TREASURER'S NAME
Hannah stared at the screen. “I didn't approve that.”
Damon didn't respond immediately. The forged signature bore her credentials, and accusing the person who had helped uncover the problem would be easy—and dangerous.
“Ben,” Jessica said, “does the log prove who actually used the account?”
“It proves where the request came from. Not who sat at the keyboard. But the access badge record might.”
The badge log placed Hannah at a hospital fundraiser across town at the time. Elisa's aide, however, had signed in to the foundation office using an executive guest pass. A hallway camera recorded Owen Pike entering moments later.
Hannah put her face in her hands. “They made it look like both of us approved the theft.”
“Which means,” Damon said, “they planned for someone to discover it eventually. They just wanted someone else to take the blame.”
Detective Vega obtained copies of the access records under warrant. Ben agreed to testify, though his mother begged him not to risk more trouble.
“I helped design the accounts,” he told her. “If I hide, they'll use them against another family.”
That evening, Daisy drew a cake taller than their apartment building. She gave it twenty candles because she thought that was an enormous number. When Damon stopped by with the shelter's new food-delivery schedule, she showed him the drawing.
“Who gets all the pieces?” he asked.
“Everybody. Even the lady in red if she says sorry.”
Damon smiled sadly. He didn't want to teach her that every apology could restore trust, but he didn't want to take her kindness away either.
“That's generous,” he said. “But nobody has to invite someone who scares them.”
After Daisy went to bed, Carmen handed Damon a sealed envelope Ben had left with her weeks earlier. She had found it beneath the lining of her work bag.
Inside was a signed board resolution dated two days before the gala.
Its title was TERMINATION OF HOPE HOUSE OPERATIONS.
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Victor had decided to close the shelter before any safety report existed.
