Chapter 10 - THE NAMES IN THE LEDGER
The investigation uncovered years of wrongdoing.
Victor Hale had diverted company funds through fraudulent vendors and falsified records.
Several employees had raised concerns.
Some were dismissed.
Others were threatened with lawsuits.
And one, Andrew Bennett, had died before his findings reached independent investigators.
The evidence from Andrew's storage card became central to the case.
It contained transaction histories.
Internal communications.
And copies of reports that had never reached the board.
Daniel Price explained the findings.
“Andrew knew what he was looking at.”
I nodded.
“He was trying to protect the employees.”
“Yes.”
Daniel looked at me.
“And he preserved the evidence carefully.”
I stared at the screen.
A man I'd never met had risked everything to expose theft from people who depended on their benefits.
Then he'd died.
Leaving behind a pregnant wife.
And a daughter who would never know him.
I asked Daniel to help establish a restitution process.
Not a publicity campaign.
Not a press release.
A real effort to identify affected employees and restore funds where possible.
We brought in independent administrators.
Outside auditors.
And employee representatives.
I recused myself from decisions where my family's involvement created conflicts.
My father attended the first board meeting.
He stood before the directors.
And admitted he'd ignored warning signs.
The room fell silent.
Then he resigned from his remaining advisory position.
Afterward, he approached me.
“Ethan.”
I looked at him.
He swallowed.
“I don't expect you to forgive me.”
I said nothing.
“But I want you to know I'm trying to make things right.”
I studied him.
“Then keep telling the truth.”
He nodded.
“I will.”
Meanwhile, Nora slowly recovered.
The first time she walked down the hospital corridor, she managed only twelve steps.
I walked beside her.
She stopped.
Breathing hard.
“I'm pathetic.”
I shook my head.
“No.”
She looked at me.
“Twelve steps.”
I smiled.
“Twelve more than yesterday.”
She laughed weakly.
“You always were annoyingly optimistic.”
I grinned.
“Only around you.”
A week later, Maisie brought her a drawing.
It showed three people standing beneath a yellow sun.
Nora examined it.
“Who's this?”
“Me.”
“And this?”
“You.”
Nora pointed toward the tall figure.
“And him?”
Maisie smiled.
“Mr. Ethan.”
Nora looked at me.
I felt my cheeks warm.
Maisie continued:
“He's not my daddy.”
The room went quiet.
Then she added:
“But he makes the house feel less empty.”
Nora's eyes filled.
I knelt beside Maisie.
“That's a beautiful thing to say.”
She shrugged.
“It's true.”
That night, Nora asked me something I'd been waiting fourteen years to hear.
“Ethan?”
“Yes?”
“Would you like to have that coffee now?”
May you like
I smiled.
“I thought you'd never ask.”
