Chapter 3 - THE SECRET HIDDEN IN THE COMPANY RECORDSCaroline stared at Priya.
"Three months before I started?"
"Yes."
"Then how could anyone say those files belong to me?"
"That is exactly why the creation dates matter."
Vincent stood beside the conference table, studying the evidence summary.
Someone had apparently prepared fraudulent records long before Caroline became involved.
The files were organized inside folders named after different construction projects.
Riverside was only one of them.
Two apartment developments, a municipal parking facility, and a senior housing project also appeared in the spreadsheet.
The total suspicious payments exceeded $2.1 million.
Caroline looked at the numbers.
"How long has this been happening?"
Priya folded her hands.
"We don't know yet. The dates may have been manipulated, and we still need to authenticate the records."
Vincent looked toward the window.
"I want an independent forensic accounting firm brought in."
Priya nodded.
"I agree."
"And I want every worker on the affected projects protected from retaliation for reporting concerns."
Caroline looked at him.
"Do you think this goes beyond stolen money?"
Vincent turned.
"I hope not."
But his expression told her he was worried.
That afternoon, Caroline returned to her normal duties.
Priya had instructed her not to investigate independently.
She respected that.
However, she could not stop thinking about the Riverside project.
The community center was intended to serve families like hers.
If someone was stealing money from it, the real victims would be the children who needed it.
At lunch, she sat outside with a sandwich.
Nora approached her.
"Can I sit?"
"Of course."
Nora sat beside her.
For a while, neither woman spoke.
Finally, Nora said, "I heard about the authorization."
Caroline nodded.
"It's frightening."
Nora looked down.
"Caroline, be careful."
Caroline turned.
"Why?"
"Because people who steal that much money don't appreciate being questioned."
"Do you know something?"
Nora remained silent.
"Ms. Bell?"
Nora looked around before answering.
"Last year, I noticed irregularities in a housing project."
"What happened?"
"I reported them."
"To whom?"
"Finance."
"And?"
"They told me the entries were accounting adjustments."
Caroline waited.
Nora's voice lowered.
"Two weeks later, my supervisor was transferred, and I was warned that my position might be eliminated."
Caroline felt a chill.
"Why didn't you say anything?"
Nora gave a sad smile.
"I have a son in college and a mortgage. Sometimes people make decisions they're not proud of because they're afraid."
Caroline thought of Daniel and Blessing.
She understood that fear.
But understanding it did not make the situation less troubling.
"Do you still have those records?"
Nora shook her head.
"Not with me."
Before Caroline could ask another question, Nora stood.
"I've already said too much."
She walked away.
That evening, Vincent invited Caroline and her siblings to visit Mama Grace on Sunday.
When Caroline told the children, Blessing nearly dropped her spoon.
"We're going to the mansion?"
Caroline laughed.
"Yes."
"All three of us?"
"All three."
Daniel looked interested.
"Does Mr. Vincent really have a swimming pool?"
"Apparently."
"And a library?"
"Yes."
Blessing leaned forward.
"Can I see Mama Grace's garden?"
Caroline smiled.
"I'm sure she'd love that."
Daniel noticed that Caroline seemed distracted.
After Blessing left the table, he spoke quietly.
"Are you worried about work?"
"A little."
"Do you want me to help?"
She smiled.
"You already help more than you know."
"I'm serious."
"I know."
Daniel looked at his hands.
"When something breaks, you always tell me to understand the problem before trying to fix it."
"That's right."
"Maybe you should do the same."
Caroline studied him.
"That's good advice."
Daniel smiled.
"I learned from someone smart."
She reached across the table and squeezed his hand.
On Sunday afternoon, Vincent arrived to collect them.
Blessing wore a simple blue dress.
Daniel had ironed his shirt twice.
Caroline wore a cream-colored blouse and a dark skirt.
Vincent smiled when he saw them.
"Everyone looks wonderful."
Blessing looked at him.
"Even Daniel?"
"Especially Daniel."
Daniel rolled his eyes.
"Thanks."
During the drive, Blessing asked so many questions that Vincent eventually laughed.
"Are you going to let me answer one before asking another?"
She covered her mouth.
"Sorry."
"Don't apologize. I like curious people."
When they arrived at the mansion, Mama Grace was waiting on the steps.
She opened her arms.
"My children!"
Blessing ran toward her.
Mama Grace hugged her warmly.
"And you must be Daniel."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Call me Mama Grace."
Daniel smiled.
"Yes, Mama Grace."
The afternoon passed pleasantly.
They walked through the gardens.
Daniel examined the irrigation system.
Blessing admired the flowers.
Mama Grace showed them photographs from Vincent's childhood.
Caroline laughed when she saw a picture of a younger Vincent covered in mud.
"You were a troublesome child."
Vincent shook his head.
"I was adventurous."
Mama Grace laughed.
"He once tried to build a bridge across the fishpond."
Daniel's eyes brightened.
"Did it work?"
"No," Mama Grace answered. "He fell into the water."
Everyone laughed.
For several hours, Caroline forgot about the investigation.
Then, shortly before dinner, Vincent received a phone call.
His smile disappeared.
He stepped outside.
When he returned, he looked troubled.
Caroline noticed immediately.
"Is everything okay?"
Vincent hesitated.
"There's a problem at Riverside."
"What happened?"
"Our engineering team found differences between the concrete mix specified in the contract and the documentation supplied for several deliveries."
Caroline stared at him.
"Does that mean the building could be unsafe?"
"We don't know yet. They've stopped the affected work until testing is completed."
Mama Grace placed a hand over her chest.
"Lord, protect those workers."
Vincent nodded.
"We're taking precautions."
Caroline thought about Blessing's drawing.
Children playing outside a beautiful new school.
She thought about the families who believed the building would give their children a better future.
"Someone has to find out what happened," she said.
Vincent looked at her.
"We will."
Later, while everyone was preparing to leave, Daniel approached Caroline with his phone.
"Can I show you something?"
"Of course."
He displayed a photograph he had taken of the architectural model in Vincent's study.
Caroline frowned.
"What am I looking at?"
Daniel zoomed in.
"The delivery entrance."
"What about it?"
"The plans show two loading access roads, but the model has only one."
Caroline examined the image.
"Maybe the design changed."
"Maybe."
Daniel enlarged a small printed label.
"But look at the contractor's name."
Caroline read it.
Horizon Industrial Supply.
Her stomach dropped.
The same supplier connected to the fraudulent payments had been given responsibility for part of the Riverside site.
Before she could speak, her phone vibrated.
An unknown number had sent a photograph.
It showed Daniel and Blessing standing outside their school.
May you like
The message underneath contained five words.
NEXT TIME, THEY WON'T SMILE.
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