Chapter 9 - THE REPORT THAT DIDN'T EXIST
Daniel's company, Blake Industrial Supply, employed thirty-two people. He'd built it from a rented warehouse, helping contractors keep job sites running when shipments were late. He had never imagined his marriage could put their paychecks at risk.
His controller, Luis Ortega, met him in Rebecca's conference room. “Our lenders are questioning the forged authorization. The reserve is frozen until the bank clears it. People are going to miss rent if we can't make payroll.”
Daniel rubbed his forehead. “Can we use the line of credit?”
“Some of it. But Amanda opened three unauthorized loans against company equipment.”
Rebecca arranged a meeting with the bank's fraud department and an independent examiner. The company couldn't simply ignore the loan balances, but it could demand reviews and seek temporary access to undisputed funds.
When Daniel finally stepped outside, a local reporter was waiting.
“Mr. Blake, is it true you were under investigation for endangering your children?”
“Who told you that?”
The reporter held up a copy of a complaint. The letterhead bore the name of a child-welfare agency. It alleged Daniel had threatened his wife and neglected Lily.
Rebecca took one look at the document. “This isn't an agency finding. It's an anonymous intake report.”
The allegations contained details from a weekend when Daniel had been out of state. Attached were photographs of him asleep on his office couch and a list of medications prescribed after a routine procedure.
Somebody had been collecting pieces of his life and turning them into accusations.
That night Daniel received a voicemail from an unknown woman.
“Mr. Blake, my name is Leah Mercer. I'm Amanda's sister. I should have called years ago.”
Her voice cracked.
May you like
“And you need to know why she chose you.”
