Chapter 6 - The Empty Safe
The donor office smelled like expensive wood and panic.
The safe door hung open behind a painting.
"Who has the code?" Detective Brooks asked.
Howard answered first.
"Me, Amelia, Dr. Lang, and the event controller."
The controller was already in the west salon.
That left Howard and Peter Lang.
Howard looked sick.
"I didn't open it."
"I believe you," I said.
I pointed to the clean glass shelf inside the safe.
"Whoever removed the binders knew exactly what to take."
Peter Lang had left through the kitchen exit eight minutes before the SUVs arrived.
"He ran," Daniel said.
"Or someone told him to."
My phone buzzed.
It showed me in the server uniform entering the mansion at 3:42 that afternoon.
Below it was a message.
YOU SHOULD HAVE STAYED IN THE BOARDROOM.
"What?"
"You're done here."
"No."
"Amelia—"
"Someone knew I was undercover before the event began. If I leave now, they win."
"This isn't about winning."
"It is when children's money is missing."
Brooks asked for my phone and forwarded the message to cybercrime.
Then Priya arrived carrying a laptop.
"Northline isn't the only shell."
She found two more: Harbor Twelve Services and Red Elm Advisory.
Together, the three had received $1.86 million.
All from programs connected to pediatric transport, family housing, and emergency medication grants.
"How much of that reached actual services?"
"We don't know yet."
Daniel opened one corporate filing.
Harbor Twelve's registered agent was a law office downtown.
Red Elm's mailing address was a private mailbox.
Northline had Celeste.
Then Priya found one shared detail.
All three companies had opened accounts at the same private bank.
The relationship manager was Thomas Carlisle.
Vanessa's older brother.
Daniel looked toward the ballroom.
"He's here tonight."
I turned.
Thomas Carlisle had been standing ten feet from the fountain when his sister tripped me.
May you like
He hadn't helped.
Now he was gone.
