Chapter 4 - THE MAN WHO OWNED THE DEBT
Mateo answered on the second ring.
"Miss Gallagher."
Audrey stared at the phone.
"How did you know it was me?"
"You called the number I gave you."
She almost laughed.
Then remembered why she was calling.
"I found Northstar."
Silence.
Mateo's voice changed.
"Where are you?"
"At home."
"Are you alone?"
"In the study."
"Have you told anyone?"
"No."
"Good."
Audrey frowned.
"Don't tell me what to do."
A pause.
Then Mateo said:
"You're right. I'm sorry."
She closed her eyes.
"I think someone stole my credentials."
"I believe you."
The words struck her harder than she'd expected.
Nobody had asked for proof.
Nobody had accused her of exaggerating.
He simply believed her.
"Why?"
"Because the transfer pattern doesn't match your previous work."
Audrey sat straighter.
"You've studied my work?"
"Your restructuring proposals. Your creditor negotiations. Your risk models."
She stared.
"Those are confidential."
"I acquired the debt and received certain financial disclosures through the transaction. Your father also provided documents he shouldn't have."
Audrey felt sick.
"What documents?"
Mateo hesitated.
"Your internal reports."
She closed her eyes.
Her father had used her work to negotiate with the man he feared most.
Mateo continued.
"Audrey, I need you to understand something."
"What?"
"Northstar isn't simply an offshore holding company."
She gripped the phone.
"Then what is it?"
"A vehicle used to acquire waterfront properties through fraudulent valuations."
Audrey frowned.
"Why would anyone do that?"
"Because the land beneath those properties is about to become extremely valuable."
"How?"
Mateo paused.
"There's a major infrastructure project under consideration. Someone has been using confidential information to buy land before the public knows what it's worth."
Audrey felt cold.
"Insider information?"
"Potentially. And the financing appears to involve falsified records."
She stared at the screen.
"Who owns Northstar?"
Mateo's answer was quiet.
"That's the part your father doesn't want you to know."
"Tell me."
"Your sister."
Audrey stopped breathing.
"Victoria?"
"On paper, yes."
Audrey shook her head.
"She doesn't understand financial structures."
"No."
Mateo's voice hardened.
"But someone behind her does."
Audrey thought of Preston Hayes.
Banking heir.
Victoria's intended fiancé.
A man with access to capital.
Connections.
And confidential development information.
"Oh, God."
Mateo heard the change in her breathing.
"What?"
Audrey whispered:
"Preston."
Silence.
May you like
Then Mateo said:
"That's what I was afraid you'd say."
