Chapter 2 - No More Serving
Daniel crossed the terrace with four people behind him: our outside counsel, two forensic accountants, and Detective Lena Brooks from the financial crimes unit.
"Why is Daniel Cross here?"
"Because I called him."
Howard stared at me. "You know Mr. Cross?"
"Very well."
"Who did that?"
"Later."
Vanessa gave a nervous laugh. "This is ridiculous. She tripped."
"Then you won't mind the security footage," Daniel said.
"Howard, please gather every employee who worked this event. No one is in trouble. I need them in the west salon."
I finally answered the question everyone had been asking with their eyes.
"Amelia Cross."
My name had been printed on the foundation's annual reports for six years, but my photograph hadn't appeared publicly since I took medical leave after my father's death.
Most of these people knew my signature better than my face.
"Cross?" she whispered.
Daniel removed his coat and handed it to me.
"Chair of the Lakeshore Children's Trust," he said. "And the person who approved tonight's gala budget."
Vanessa's father, Grant Carlisle, pushed through the ballroom doors.
"What the hell is happening?"
Then he saw Daniel.
Then Detective Brooks.
"Amelia. I didn't realize you were attending."
"That was the point."
"Surely you're not turning a childish accident into some kind of spectacle."
"No."
I looked at the shattered glasses floating in the fountain.
"I'm turning your donor agreement into an audit."
Daniel handed me a dry folder from his case.
Inside was the document I had been waiting for.
A bank authorization signed forty minutes earlier.
I showed Grant the first page.
"The Carlisle accounts connected to the foundation are frozen pending review."
Vanessa whispered, "Dad?"
Grant didn't look at her.
May you like
He looked at the folder.
And for the first time, I saw a man who knew exactly what we were going to find.
