Chapter 13 - The Meeting Nobody Planned
Ricardo went outside with Leah beside him and Elena on the phone to the investigator. Brendan stood under a streetlamp, his tie hanging loose, looking nothing like the calm man who had balanced the company's books for years.
"I didn't mean for it to get this far," he said.
"You took almost seven hundred thousand dollars," Ricardo answered.
"I moved it. Celeste said she'd replace it after the Mercer Street closing. Vale arranged a loan, and she needed the building as collateral. The development company was supposed to buy it cheap and sell it again."
"You knew my father hadn't agreed?"
Brendan looked at the pavement. "I knew he wouldn't."
Leah stepped forward. "If you have documents, deliver them through your attorney or to investigators. We're not bargaining in a parking lot."
Brendan's shoulders collapsed. "There's a file at the office. A recording. Celeste asked me to erase it, but I made a copy."
"A recording of what?" Ricardo demanded.
"Your father refusing to sign. She thought the conference room microphone was off."
Before Ricardo could answer, an SUV turned the corner. Its headlights swept across the sidewalk. Brendan flinched and stumbled backward.
"That's Vale's driver," he muttered.
The vehicle slowed, then sped away when Elena raised her phone to record the plate.
Brendan backed toward his car. "I can't do this here."
"Then take the file to the police," Ricardo called.
May you like
Brendan shook his head. "You're still not understanding. Someone wants the evidence gone before Monday."
By midnight, his work phone had been disconnected.
