Chapter 4 - The Woman Removed From the List
Nicole's answer was a thin smile. "You made a complaint. Everyone heard."
"No," Nina said. "I reported it to one supervisor, in writing. That supervisor told me the message was confidential."
Sebastian set the program beside his cane. "Who was your supervisor?"
"Mara Benton. She left in August."
Brandon checked his phone. "Her resignation came through Nicole's office."
"People resign," Nicole said. "It's not a crime."
"Neither is asking why," Sebastian replied.
Nina showed him the list on the back page. The original included Judith Bell, an independent trustee who had challenged the foundation's property proposal twice. The revised version marked Bell as having declined and added Adrian Vale under the heading of donor representative.
"Adrian is your brother," Brandon said to Nicole.
"He's helping us with redevelopment," she answered.
"He doesn't represent my mother's trust."
A gala couldn't legally approve a sale. But its announcement would pressure donors, lenders and the buyer to treat the deal as final.
"Where is Judith?" Sebastian asked.
Nicole said she had declined because of illness. Nina took out her phone and called the number printed on the original invitation. Judith answered on the fourth ring.
"I'm in a cab," she said. "Someone told me the gala was canceled for trustees. I called the foundation office, and they insisted. Why?"
Sebastian closed his eyes for a moment. "Judith, come anyway. Bring whatever you were given."
"Sebastian, I have something else," she said. "I never signed the new minutes they sent around. My name is on them, but my signature isn't."
Brandon held out his hand for the phone. "Which minutes?"
"The meeting supposedly approving the Harbor House sale. There wasn't a meeting."
Nicole reached for her purse.
"Stay," Brandon said. It came out louder than he intended. "I want you here when she arrives."
Nicole stared at her husband as though she no longer recognized him.
May you like
Across the hall, a service elevator opened. A young woman with a gray courier bag stepped out, saw Nicole, and immediately turned away.
Nina knew her face: Leah Pike, Nicole's assistant. And Leah was carrying the same black folio that had been missing from the hotel's desk.
