Chapter 8 - SHE WALKED INTO MY COMPANY
I reached Bradley Structural Consulting twenty-three minutes later.
Teresa was sitting in our conference room.
She had been released pending further proceedings.
Beside her were two attorneys.
Victor Hale sat at the far end of the table.
That was the first time I saw them together after understanding what they were.
My business partner, Ethan Cole, looked furious.
“What is happening?”
Teresa answered before I could.
“I own fifteen percent of this company.”
I laughed once.
Not because it was funny.
Because rage sometimes comes out sounding strange.
“You own nothing.”
One of her attorneys slid a document forward.
“The transfer was properly executed.”
Rachel arrived seconds later.
She took one look at the paperwork.
Then at Victor.
“Interesting.”
Victor remained expressionless.
Rachel pointed toward the notary seal.
“I recognize this name.”
The notary was Linda Hale.
Victor’s sister.
Teresa’s confidence slipped for the first time.
Only slightly.
But I saw it.
Rachel saw it too.
“You forged a transfer and had your sister notarize it?”
Victor finally spoke.
“You should be careful with accusations.”
“I’m extremely careful.”
Rachel smiled.
“That’s why I already requested surveillance records from the location listed in the notarization.”
The document claimed I signed it at Victor’s downtown office on January 18.
I had been in Louisville that entire day inspecting a bridge project.
My employer had hotel records.
Mileage logs.
Site photographs.
Electronic access records.
And twelve employees who had seen me there.
The transfer was impossible.
Teresa stood.
“This meeting is finished.”
“No.”
I stepped between her and the door.
“The meeting is finally beginning.”
Her lawyers immediately warned me not to block her exit.
I moved aside.
As Teresa passed me, she whispered something.
“You think Amy is innocent because she cries well.”
I stared at her.
“What does that mean?”
She only smiled.
That afternoon, Detective Reed called Amy and me back to his office.
He had recovered deleted messages from Mason’s phone.
Most involved Teresa and Victor.
But one contact surprised him.
The messages were sent to someone listed only as A.
The conversation mentioned my schedule.
Frederick.
And the night of the birthday party.
Reed placed a printed message in front of Amy.
Her face changed instantly.
I read it.
KEEP CONNOR OUT UNTIL AT LEAST 8.
BABY BEING SICK MAY HELP.
I looked at Amy.
“Who is A?”
She whispered the answer.
“My sister.”
May you like
And suddenly the betrayal reached another side of our family.
TOBE CONTINUED
