Chapter 14 - The Attempted Transfer
The bank had paused the wire for verification. A routine check had prevented another questionable payment.
The receiving account belonged to Crescent Pier Holdings. Dr. Shah instructed the accountant to preserve the payment authorization and notify counsel. Pike insisted he hadn't approved it, but his electronic credentials were recorded on the request. He said those credentials had been shared with a deputy, a practice the compliance officer called reckless.
"We're not declaring a thief by reading a username," Nora said. "But we aren't pretending the transfer was normal."
Leo returned with something useful and uncomfortable. He had found an earlier message asking him to place a miniature camera near Michael's glass. He refused that part. The sender then offered to pay him for a written statement if anyone interrupted the toast.
"You should have told us sooner," I said.
"I know," he answered. "I was afraid admitting one thing would get me blamed for everything."
Michael thanked him for coming back. "Tell the truth now. That's the only part you can change."
Luca's attorney provided investigators with the vendor contract, Leo's messages, the security footage and the documented bank concerns. No one had promised arrests. The paper trail had to be checked outside the family.
That night Vanessa asked to meet me at a public coffee shop. I agreed only after Nora said I was free to decline and recommended that I bring someone I trusted. Mrs. Alvarez sat at another table, reading a newspaper.
Vanessa arrived without makeup. "Carlo will bury you," she said.
"Did he tell you that?"
She stared into her cup. "He told me the glass wouldn't hurt Michael. Just embarrass him. That was supposed to be the end."
"Then why frame me?"
May you like
"Because you weren't supposed to see anything."
She slid a folded note across the table. Inside were three bank account numbers and the words ASK LUCA ABOUT THE FIRST PAYMENT.
