Chapter 23 - THE MONEY THAT SAVED THE COMPANY
Martin finally admitted the transfers.
Not theft, according to him.
Survival.
Cross Development had been weeks from default after two major commercial projects failed.
Gabriel’s father moved employee retirement funds temporarily to cover lender requirements.
Martin helped.
They planned to repay everything within ninety days.
Then the market worsened.
Ninety days became eight months.
Claire discovered it.
“She wanted us to report it,” Martin said.
“You should have.”
“We would’ve collapsed.”
Gabriel stared at him.
“People’s retirement money wasn’t yours.”
“It was restored.”
“After Claire lost her career.”
Martin looked irritated.
“She forced our hand.”
Rachel heard it immediately.
The language of people who turned their choices into somebody else’s fault.
“What happened when Gabriel started asking questions two years later?” she asked.
Martin looked at her.
Then Gabriel.
“Your father was dying.”
“So?”
“He asked me to keep you focused.”
Gabriel laughed without humor.
“Focused.”
“He knew guilt would destroy you.”
“No. Exposure would destroy him.”
Martin stood.
“This company employs four thousand people.”
Gabriel stepped closer.
“And that made Claire disposable?”
Martin said nothing.
That silence finally broke whatever loyalty Gabriel had left.
But another problem remained.
The threatening emails were current.
Gabriel asked, “Who has the old records now?”
Martin shook his head.
“I don’t know.”
“Who knew?”
“Dad. Me. Claire.”
“Anyone else?”
Martin hesitated.
“Our outside auditor.”
“Name?”
Martin looked at him.
“Peter Vale.”
Gabriel went still.
Rachel knew the name too.
Peter Vale was not obscure.
He currently served as chief financial officer of Cross Development.
The man who had stood beside Gabriel for eleven years.
The man who handled every major account.
The man who knew Rachel’s address.
And Claire’s.
Gabriel reached for his phone.
Rachel stopped him.
“What are you doing?”
“Calling security.”
“No.”
He looked at her.
“If Peter is involved and you suddenly lock everything down, he knows we’ve figured it out.”
Gabriel stared at her.
She continued.
“You wanted the truth?”
May you like
“Yes.”
“Then stop warning everybody before we get it.”
