Chapter 9 - PATRICK CALLAHAN HAD BEEN FRAMED BEFORE HIS DEATHThe new audit went backward.
Three years.
Then five.
They found Patrick’s original dispute.
Someone had altered vendor quantities in Bellanova’s procurement system.
Extra hours.
Equipment charges.
Chemical supplies.
The inflated amounts appeared under Callahan Facilities invoices.
Patrick was accused.
But payment records showed his company never received the extra money.
Where did it go?
A clearing account.
Controlled by Trent.
The same procurement director.
So the fraud began before Dominic’s later shell-company scheme.
Did Dominic know then?
Emails suggested yes—partly.
Trent messaged him:
Callahan is making noise about the invoice mismatch.
Dominic replied:
Then terminate the contract. We can’t have a vendor accusing us while we’re refinancing.
Not:
Investigate.
Not:
Check the ledger.
Terminate.
Then:
If he threatens suit, remind him we have the audit report.
The audit report was wrong.
Dominic either knew or deliberately avoided knowing.
Both serious.
Patrick lost his contract.
Then his business.
Maeve sat in the conference room while an independent investigator explained it.
She asked one question.
“Did my dad steal anything?”
“No evidence indicates that.”
She closed her eyes.
That was all she needed at first.
Not money.
May you like
Not revenge.
Her father’s name cleared.
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