Chapter 7 - Follow the Money
Lucas Vale had been doing "consulting" work for Brooks Hospitality for eighteen months.
I had approved it because Vanessa asked me to give him a chance.
That sentence would haunt me for a long time.
By midnight, my CFO, Aaron Bell, had joined Laura and me in a private conference room at the hospital. Ella slept on the couch under my coat while Dr. Patel arranged for a child counselor to see her the next morning.
Aaron pulled vendor records.
"Vale Strategic Services," he said. "I remember this."
"How much?"
He hesitated.
"Ethan."
"How much?"
"Four hundred eighty-two thousand over fourteen months."
My mouth went dry.
"For what?"
"Market analysis, event development, brand positioning. Most invoices were signed off by your executive account."
"I didn't sign them."
Aaron looked at me.
Laura said, "Show us the approvals."
The electronic approvals came from my credentials on nights I was traveling.
One happened while I was giving a speech in Dallas.
Another while I was onstage in Boston.
Someone had access to my password and authentication device.
My second device stayed in the home office.
Vanessa knew the safe code.
Aaron opened the latest invoice.
One hundred twelve thousand dollars.
Description: CHILD AND FAMILY RESTRUCTURING CONSULTATION.
The recipient account was not Lucas's business account.
It was a private LLC registered two months earlier.
Laura searched the name.
Silver Pine Holdings.
Registered manager: Lucas Vale.
Mailing address: a law office downtown.
Then Aaron found a scheduled transfer that had not yet cleared.
$1.6 million.
Authorization date: Monday.
Two days away.
May you like
The memo line contained only four words.
AFTER E.B. CAPACITY EVENT.
