Chapter 10: The Money Hidden Inside My Company
For several seconds, I couldn't move.
Eleanor's words kept repeating in my head.
He used your company to hide the money that killed your father.
I looked at Rebecca.
"Tell me that's impossible.""
She didn't answer immediately.
Instead, she took the photograph of the transfer authorization and examined it carefully.
"Marcus, we need to distinguish between money belonging to Reed Global and money passing through its accounts.""
"You're saying he could have hidden twelve million dollars inside my company?""
"Possibly. But we need to establish how.""
I turned toward Eleanor.
"How long have you known?""
She looked down.
"Your father told me that Devon had found a way to move the money through a business account. He didn't tell me which one.""
"Why?""
"Because he didn't trust anyone anymore.""
I walked toward the window.
Outside, a delivery truck passed the small house.
Everything looked ordinary.
Somewhere in Chicago, my company was preparing to complete a multibillion-dollar acquisition.
And inside its financial records, there might be twelve million dollars connected to my father's death.
I took out my phone.
"Daniel, get the board on an emergency call.""
He nodded.
"Should I include the acquisition partners?""
"Not yet. First, I want to know exactly where that money went.""
Rebecca opened her laptop.
"I'll contact our forensic accountants.""
"Tell them to examine every transaction involving Hayes Strategic Advisory, Meridian Logistics, and any subsidiary created during the first eighteen months.""
She nodded.
Then I looked at Eleanor.
"Did Devon know you were alive?""
Her expression changed.
"Yes.""
"How?""
"He visited me last year.""
I turned sharply.
"Why didn't you report it?""
"Because he came with a photograph of my house. He told me he knew where I lived and that he could make the past disappear permanently.""
My jaw tightened.
"What did he want?""
"Your father's original inheritance documents.""
"And you refused?""
She nodded.
"He told me that if I didn't cooperate, he'd make sure you lost everything.""
I stared at her.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
She gave me a sad smile.
"Because I had already failed your father once. I wasn't going to put his other son in danger.""
I looked away.
For the first time, I understood that Eleanor had spent eleven years living with the same fear my mother had carried.
And Devon had been using that fear to keep everyone silent.
At 3:15 p.m., Rebecca's laptop chimed.
She turned the screen toward me.
"We found something.""
A spreadsheet displayed several transfers between company accounts.
The first transaction was dated three years earlier.
The amount was $1,250,000.
The sender was an investment subsidiary.
The recipient was a consulting firm registered in Delaware.
Hayes Strategic Advisory.
I scrolled.
Another transfer.
$875,000.
Then another.
$2,100,000.
I looked at Rebecca.
"These are not operating expenses.""
"No. They're listed as strategic acquisition payments.""
"Who approved them?""
She opened the authorization records.
My stomach tightened.
The approvals carried my digital signature.
I leaned closer.
"I never authorized these.""
Rebecca nodded.
"That's what we suspected.""
"Then how did he get my signature?""
She examined the audit trail.
"Devon had access to your original administrative credentials during the company's formation. It appears he created a secondary authorization profile.""
I remembered the laptop password Tiana had given him.
The founding administrator account.
The files he had copied.
"How much?""
Rebecca ran a calculation.
"Across the accounts we've identified, approximately eleven million, eight hundred thousand dollars.""
I sat down.
Eleven million dollars.
Money that had passed through my company without my knowledge.
"Can we recover it?""
"Some of it. But several transfers were routed through additional shell companies.""
I stared at the spreadsheet.
"Freeze everything.""
"Already initiated.""
"Contact the banks.""
"Done.""
"And notify the board.""
Rebecca hesitated.
"Marcus, there's a problem.""
"What?""
"One of the accounts is connected to the acquisition escrow.""
I looked at her.
"Which one?""
She pointed to a line near the bottom.
*REED GLOBAL ACQUISITION HOLDINGS — $4,750,000.*
The room seemed to grow colder.
Devon hadn't simply hidden money in my company.
He had placed part of it inside the very transaction that was supposed to secure our future.
If the acquisition closed without identifying the funds, the buyer could inherit the problem.
And if the fraud became public afterward, Reed Global could face enormous legal consequences.
"Stop the acquisition," I said.
Rebecca looked at me.
"Are you sure?""
"Until we understand every dollar, nothing moves.""
She nodded.
Then Daniel's phone rang.
He listened for several seconds.
His expression changed.
"Sir, the board members are asking why the acquisition has been suspended.""
"Tell them I'll explain in person.""
Daniel lowered his phone.
"There's another issue.""
"What?""
"Devon has just called an emergency shareholders' meeting.""
I frowned.
"He doesn't have authority to do that.""
"He's claiming that you have breached the original ownership agreement.""
I almost laughed.
"Let him try.""
Daniel looked uncomfortable.
"He has also invited several outside investors.""
I stood.
"Who?""
Daniel checked his phone.
Then he answered.
"Three representatives from the company acquiring Reed Global.""
At 6:40 p.m., I entered the boardroom.
Seven directors were present.
So were two lawyers representing the acquiring company.
Devon sat at the far end of the table.
He wore a dark blue suit and a silver watch.
He looked completely comfortable.
When he saw me, he smiled.
"Marcus.""
"Devon.""
He gestured toward the empty chair.
"Please. Sit down.""
I remained standing.
"Why are you calling an emergency shareholders' meeting?""
"Because your recent decisions are putting the company at risk.""
I placed a folder on the table.
"Interesting. I was about to say the same thing about you.""
His smile disappeared.
One of the outside lawyers spoke.
"Mr. Reed, we understand there are concerns regarding certain financial transfers.""
"There are more than concerns," I replied.
"We have evidence of unauthorized transactions totaling nearly twelve million dollars.""
Devon shook his head.
"That's an outrageous accusation.""
I opened the folder.
"These are your authorization records.""
He barely glanced at them.
"Those transactions were legitimate consulting payments.""
"To your private company?""
"Approved business expenses.""
"Using my signature?""
Devon leaned forward.
"Marcus, you gave me access to those accounts. Don't pretend you didn't.""
"I gave you a job.""
"You gave me responsibility.""
"I gave you trust.""
He smiled faintly.
"Trust is a dangerous thing in business.""
I stared at him.
"Apparently.""
Rebecca distributed copies of the documents.
The outside lawyers began reading.
Devon's expression hardened.
Then he reached into his briefcase.
"Since we're discussing ownership, perhaps we should examine the original agreement.""
He placed a document on the table.
The same forged contract Tiana had signed.
He pushed it toward the board chairman.
"According to this agreement, I hold a fifty-percent beneficial interest in Meridian Logistics and its successor entities.""
I looked at the document.
Then at Devon.
"You're still using that?""
He smiled.
"Because it's valid.""
Rebecca stood.
"That document has already been challenged. We possess the original trust agreement, which directly contradicts your claim.""
Devon's smile vanished.
For the first time, he looked genuinely angry.
Then he turned toward the outside lawyers.
"There's something else you should know.""
He opened another folder.
Inside was a statement signed by Tiana.
It claimed that I had knowingly authorized the transfer of confidential company assets to Devon three years earlier.
I stared at the signature.
Tiana's.
But I knew she had already admitted that the statement was false.
"Where did you get that?"" I asked.
Devon leaned back.
"Your former partner was very cooperative.""
I looked at him carefully.
"You're using a statement from a woman you've been threatening?""
His expression changed.
"Be careful, Marcus.""
I placed both hands on the table.
"No. You should be careful.""
Then I turned toward the board.
"Before anyone votes on anything, I want you to hear something.""
Rebecca connected her laptop to the conference room speakers.
She pressed play.
Devon's voice filled the room.
She'll sign it. She doesn't have a choice.
Then Tiana's voice.
You said Marcus knew.
And Devon's response.
Marcus doesn't know anything.
The recording ended.
Nobody spoke.
Devon slowly stood.
"That's been edited.""
Rebecca opened another file.
"Then perhaps you'd like to explain this.""
It was a bank transfer.
The original payment to Tiana.
Two hundred thousand dollars.
Devon looked around the room.
Then he turned toward me.
"You have no idea what you're getting yourself into.""
I stepped closer.
"Then explain it.""
He leaned forward and whispered:
"Your father wasn't the only person I helped disappear.""
Before I could respond, the boardroom doors opened.
A police detective entered.
"Devon Hayes?""
Devon looked toward the door.
The detective held up a document.
"We need you to accompany us.""
Devon didn't move.
Instead, he smiled.
Then he looked directly at me.
"You still think this is about money.""
May you like
And as the detective approached him, Devon said something that made Rebecca drop her pen.
"Ask your mother what she did the night your father died.""
