Chapter 7 - THE EMPLOYEE WHO DISAPPEAREDBy eight thirty that morning, Caroline was pacing the mansion's living room.
She had called Nora three times.
There was no answer.
Vincent had contacted Priya and the police.
A company security officer was checking whether Nora had entered the building.
No one had seen her.
Caroline felt sick.
"She's missing because she helped us."
Vincent shook his head.
"We don't know that."
"But someone threatened her."
"Yes. And we're taking it seriously."
Mama Grace entered carrying a tray of tea.
She set it down and looked at Caroline.
"Come sit beside me."
Caroline hesitated.
"How can I sit when Nora might be in danger?"
"Because wearing yourself out won't help her."
Caroline slowly sat.
Mama Grace took her hand.
"Fear is powerful. But we mustn't allow it to make every decision."
Caroline looked toward Vincent.
"What can we do?"
"Cooperate with the police and give them everything we have."
For the next several hours, there was little news.
Caroline tried to read.
She tried to help Blessing organize her schoolbooks.
She even attempted to prepare lunch.
But nothing held her attention.
Shortly after noon, Priya called.
Nora had been located.
She was safe.
Caroline nearly cried with relief.
"Where was she?"
"At her sister's house outside the city."
"Why didn't she tell anyone?"
"She became frightened after receiving threatening calls. She turned off her phone and left."
Caroline closed her eyes.
"Thank God."
Priya continued.
"Nora has agreed to speak with the investigators. She's also provided more records."
"What kind?"
"Documents showing that concerns about the same supplier were raised repeatedly."
That afternoon, Vincent and Caroline received a summary of the new evidence.
Three years earlier, Luis Vega had been working as a construction foreman at a senior housing development.
He noticed inconsistencies between delivery tickets and materials arriving on-site.
When he complained, his concerns were dismissed.
Shortly afterward, he lost his job.
The official reason was poor performance.
But personnel records showed that Luis had received positive evaluations before his complaint.
Vincent looked devastated.
"Someone was punished for trying to protect a building."
Priya nodded.
"That's what the records suggest."
Caroline studied the documents.
"Can we contact him?"
"We already have," Priya said. "He's willing to speak with investigators through his attorney."
Caroline looked surprised.
"He still wants to help after what happened?"
Priya smiled slightly.
"He said he doesn't want anyone else losing a job for telling the truth."
The following day, Luis met with the independent investigators.
Caroline was not present for the formal interview.
But later, Priya shared the relevant findings with Vincent.
Luis had kept copies of his complaints, photographs of questionable deliveries, and several messages from managers.
One photograph showed a truck unloading materials beside a project warehouse.
Its company logo was clearly visible.
Horizon Industrial Supply.
Another showed a delivery ticket bearing a signature that did not match the name of the employee supposedly receiving the materials.
The pattern resembled what had happened to Caroline.
Vincent was beginning to understand how deeply the fraud might extend.
That evening, Caroline found him standing alone in the garden.
"Are you all right?"
He gave a tired smile.
"I've had better weeks."
She stood beside him.
For a while, they watched the evening sky.
Finally, Vincent spoke.
"My father built this company from a small construction business."
Caroline turned toward him.
"He started with four workers and one truck. He believed that if people were willing to work hard, they deserved a fair chance."
"That sounds like a good man."
"He was."
Vincent looked at the mansion.
"When he died, I promised Mama I would protect what he'd built."
Caroline listened.
"I thought that meant growing the company. Winning contracts. Creating more jobs."
"And now?"
Vincent exhaled.
"Now I wonder whether I've been looking at the wrong things."
Caroline shook her head.
"Growing a company isn't wrong."
"No. But I trusted people to handle things I should have understood better."
She considered his words.
"You can't watch everything."
"I know."
"But you can create a place where people aren't afraid to tell you when something is wrong."
Vincent looked at her.
"That's what you said before."
"Because I believe it."
He smiled faintly.
"You would make a good manager."
Caroline laughed.
"I don't even have a college degree."
"That can change."
She looked down.
"I've thought about going back to school."
"Why haven't you?"
She gave him a knowing look.
"Daniel and Blessing. Bills. Work. Life."
Vincent nodded.
"Fair enough."
She smiled.
"But one day, I want to study business operations or construction management."
"Why construction?"
"Because I like seeing something useful rise from an empty piece of land."
Vincent looked at her with admiration.
"And because of Riverside?"
"Especially because of Riverside."
He remained quiet.
Caroline continued.
"When I was little, my mother used to say that a good building isn't measured only by its size."
Vincent turned.
"What did she mean?"
"She said you should measure it by the lives it makes better."
He smiled slowly.
"I think I would have liked your mother."
Caroline's eyes softened.
"She would have liked you too."
For a moment, neither spoke.
There was something warm between them.
Something neither was ready to name.
Then Caroline's phone rang.
It was Priya.
"Caroline, I need to ask you a question."
"Of course."
"Have you ever seen a woman named Evelyn Mercer?"
Caroline frowned.
"I don't think so."
"She's the chair of Brooks Development's board."
"Why?"
Priya paused.
"Because Luis Vega identified her as the person who visited his construction site the day before he was dismissed."
Caroline's heart quickened.
"Maybe she was there for an inspection."
"Possibly."
"Then why are you calling me?"
"Because the meeting records show something unusual."
"What?"
"Evelyn wasn't scheduled to visit that project."
Caroline looked at Vincent.
May you like
Priya continued.
"And according to the old security log, she arrived with Adrian Cross."
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