Chapter 8: What the Money Had Hidden
The investigators moved us into Sterling’s conference room and closed the doors.
I placed the pension ledger in front of Malcolm.
“How many employees lost their savings?”
He stared at the table.
“Nearly eight hundred.”
“Say the number while looking at me.”
Malcolm raised his eyes.
“Seven hundred and eighty-six.”
Daniel sat between two investigators.
“This is absurd,” he said.
“The pension money was invested.”
Miriam opened the ledger.
“In shell companies controlled by you.”
“They were temporary holdings.”
“Three purchased properties under your name,” she replied.
“One paid Vanessa’s rent.
Another paid for a yacht.”
Vanessa’s hand flew to her mouth.
“You told me the apartment belonged to your company.”
“It did.”
“No,” Miriam said.
“It belonged to retired mechanics, receptionists and warehouse workers.”
Daniel looked at Vanessa.
“You enjoyed it while it suited you.”
She removed the apartment key from her purse and placed it before the investigator.
“Sell everything in it.
Give the money back to them.”
“You cannot give away my property.”
“It was never yours.”
Malcolm pushed his chair back.
“Daniel controlled those accounts.”
Daniel laughed.
“Now I acted alone?”
“I told you to delay payments, not empty the fund.”
“You signed the transfers.”
“I signed what you put in front of me.”
I looked from father to son.
“That excuse sounds familiar.”
Malcolm’s shoulders dropped.
The senior investigator separated the papers into two stacks.
“Malcolm Mercer, your cooperation will be recorded, but so will your signatures.
The court will decide what it is worth.”
Malcolm nodded once.
“I understand.”
“No, you don’t,” Daniel said.
“Without me, your company collapses.”
“It has already collapsed,” Malcolm answered.
Daniel leaned across the table.
“Then tell them Evelyn knew.
Tell them she attended the finance dinner.”
“I will not add another lie.”
“You owe me!”
“I gave you every advantage and taught you that consequences were for other people.” Malcolm’s voice cracked.
“That is what I owe you—this truth.”
The investigators collected the drives, server records and signature stamp.
One handed me an evidence receipt.
“The overseas funds are frozen.
Sterling’s money will be returned after verification.”
“And the pension fund?” I asked.
“We will ask the court to seize the properties and accounts connected to it.”
Grandfather placed a document beside the receipt.
“Sterling will advance the missing pension payments,” he said.
“No retiree will wait for the court.”
I looked at him.
“The board has to approve that.”
He slid the chairman’s pen toward me.
“Then call the board, Evelyn.”
Daniel watched me pick it up.
“You’ll ruin Sterling trying to look noble.”
I met his eyes.
“Protecting people is not what ruins a company.”
The investigators lifted him from his chair.
He twisted toward me at the door.
“When Sterling struggles, you’ll remember I offered you a way out.”
“I will remember that you mistook surrender for rescue.”
The door closed behind him.
Malcolm remained seated with his attorney.
The second investigator placed a formal notice in front of him.
“Your passport must be surrendered today.
Your company accounts and personal assets are frozen pending the investigation.”
Malcolm touched the paper.
“What happens to my employees?”
“Sterling will not acquire your company,” I said.
“But we will offer positions to any innocent employee displaced by your actions.”
He looked toward Grandfather.
“After everything I did?”
“The employees did not forge my granddaughter’s name,” Grandfather replied.
Malcolm signed the notice.
Before leaving, he stopped beside me.
“I cannot ask you to forgive us.”
“No,” I said.
“You cannot.”
He gave a small nod.
May you like
“Then make the company what ours should have been.”
His attorney guided him through the door.
