Chapter 7 - THE WOMAN RICHARD TRIED TO ERASE
Richard Vale learned about the audit on a Tuesday.
By Wednesday, he was furious.
He entered Bennett's office without knocking.
“You hired Clara Whitmore?”
Bennett looked up.
“Yes.”
Richard stared.
“The housekeeper?”
“The language specialist.”
Richard laughed.
“You're letting a disgraced academic review international contracts?”
Bennett closed his laptop.
“Why does her employment history concern you?”
Richard hesitated.
“Because she's unreliable.”
“According to whom?”
Richard's jaw tightened.
“Her university.”
Bennett studied him.
“Interesting. You know a great deal about her.”
Richard smiled.
“Professional circles are small.”
Bennett leaned back.
“Then you'll have no objection to the independent review.”
Richard's expression hardened.
“You're making a mistake.”
“Perhaps.”
Bennett stood.
“But this time, I'd prefer to make it with all the facts.”
That evening, Clara received another threatening message.
You had your chance to disappear quietly.
She forwarded it to Julia Mercer and the police.
Then she called Bennett.
He answered immediately.
“Clara?”
“Richard knows.”
Bennett went still.
“What happened?”
She explained.
His voice hardened.
“I'll arrange security.”
Clara paused.
“Bennett.”
“Yes?”
“I appreciate the concern. But please ask before sending people to my home.”
He closed his eyes.
She was right.
Again.
“Would you like professional security?”
Clara considered.
“Yes. For Noah and me. But I want to know who they are and what they're authorized to do.”
“Agreed.”
The following morning, Julia Mercer filed a formal complaint connected to Clara's former employment.
The complaint included evidence of potential retaliation and document manipulation.
Clara also submitted her original research report to investigators.
It contained detailed examples of contract discrepancies.
Several matched the patterns now being uncovered at Caldwell Meridian.
Richard's attempts to discredit her began to unravel.
May you like
But he wasn't finished.
And the next move would be far more dangerous than an anonymous message.
