Chapter 11 - THE OTHER SET OF RECORDS
The company had a harmless name: Sterling Event Services.
According to the foundation's vendor file, it arranged transportation for donors. According to the bank records Ethan's outside accountant obtained from the foundation, it had received a large fee on the day Helen died.
Attached to its invoice was the Aster authorization.
Vanessa hadn't simply initialed a page for her father. Her company had billed for the change.
Naomi listened from Ruth's sister's spare bedroom, where a crocheted blanket covered her knees.
“Give it to Ortiz,” she told Ethan.
“Already done.”
“Good.”
Neither spoke for a moment.
“I miss the kitchen,” he said.
“You miss having someone tell you the kettle isn't complicated.”
“That too.”
The next morning, Cole called.
Naomi let it go to voicemail.
“Marcus is making me the whole story,” he said. “I have the dispatch archive. The real one. Tell your detective I want a lawyer present.”
She forwarded the message without replying.
Three days later, Ortiz called back. Cole had come in with counsel and records his old company had retained. Investigators were checking them against the messages and payment documents already in their possession.
“Daniel objected,” Ortiz said. “In writing. The override came afterward.”
Naomi pressed the phone harder against her ear.
“From whom?”
“Vanessa's account. We still have to establish who used it. But Cole says he spoke to her.”
“And he sent us anyway.”
Ortiz let the silence answer that.
The gala was now two days away. Ethan offered to cancel it.
His attorney advised that the donors deserved a direct explanation of the frozen accounts and independent review. The board agreed to keep the gathering, with no fundraising and no celebration.
Naomi had two shifts left on the notice she had given Ruth. One was gala night.
“You don't owe us those hours,” Ruth said.
“I owe myself the choice.”
She would work alongside Ruth. New security would cover the staff areas. Her statement and the documents were already with investigators; she wasn't returning to catch anyone.
That evening, Vanessa sent a message to the staff group.
Anyone who repeated private household business would face immediate dismissal.
Ruth replied before anyone else could.
Telling the truth to investigators is not gossip.
May you like
A minute later, Vanessa sent a private message to Naomi.
COME BACK HERE AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
