Chapter 9 - TESSA’S FILE
They met Tessa in Evelyn’s office, with Tessa’s own attorney present. Tessa was in her late twenties and held a canvas tote against her knees so tightly her fingers had gone white.
“I’m not doing this to save Martin,” she said.
“Nobody thinks you are,” Evelyn replied.
Tessa opened a laptop. She had copies of meeting notes, report drafts, and email instructions she had received in the course of her work.
The first draft of the merger disclosure mentioned a possible dispute over the ownership of the Reed software. It also flagged payments to Lakeshore Advisory for review.
A later draft removed both items.
“Martin told me Legal had resolved them,” Tessa said. “I asked for the memo so I could keep it with the file. He never sent one.”
Maya scrolled to an email forwarded from Richard’s office. Richard had written:
I want a clear answer on Reed rights before this reaches Northline.
“See?” Tessa said. “Richard knew there was a question.”
“He asked for an answer,” Evelyn said. “Do you have Martin’s reply?”
Tessa clicked open another message.
Martin had told Richard the Reed claim had been settled years ago and that Lakeshore’s work had been properly reviewed. Attached was a one-page summary bearing a legal department header.
Tessa swallowed. “I checked the document history last night. Martin made the summary himself.”
Maya felt a brief, fierce rush of relief. They finally had something concrete.
Then Evelyn read the date at the top of the first email. “This was six months ago.”
Richard had known there was a risk for six months. Whether he had accepted Martin’s false answer or chosen not to ask more, he had let the merger move ahead.
Tessa closed the laptop. “If I give this to the committee, am I going to lose my job?”
“I can’t promise you won’t,” Evelyn said. “Your attorney can help you decide how to submit it and protect your position.”
Tessa looked at Maya. “Would you do it?”
Maya thought of Samuel standing in his kitchen, trying to remember the name of the lawyer who had once believed him.
“Yes,” she said.
Tessa nodded and slid a small drive across the desk.
May you like
Before anyone could touch it, Maya’s phone lit up with a call from Samuel’s building manager.
“Your grandfather had an accident,” the woman said. “He’s on his way to the hospital.”
