Chapter 6 - THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER'S SECRET
Daniel Reed arrived at Ethan's office wearing a charcoal suit.
He was fifty-eight.
Silver-haired.
Calm.
The kind of man who looked trustworthy because he had spent decades practicing the expression.
Ethan had known him since childhood.
Daniel had attended family birthdays.
Graduations.
Funerals.
He had stood beside Ethan when Charles Brooks died.
And now Ethan wondered whether he had been standing beside a criminal for most of his life.
Daniel sat.
“Ethan.”
Ethan didn't offer coffee.
“Tell me about David Carter.”
Daniel sighed.
“I wondered when we'd get here.”
Ethan stared.
“Get where?”
“The past.”
Ethan placed the letter on the desk.
Daniel looked at it.
His expression changed.
“Where did you find that?”
“My father's study.”
Daniel leaned back.
“Charles should have destroyed it.”
The words hung in the air.
Ethan felt cold.
“Why?”
Daniel looked at him.
“Because David was asking questions he didn't understand.”
“About missing money?”
Daniel smiled faintly.
“Accounting can be complicated.”
Ethan leaned forward.
“Eleven years, Daniel.”
Daniel said nothing.
“Eleven years of transfers. Eleven years of false reports.”
Daniel's expression hardened.
“You're making accusations.”
Ethan nodded.
“Yes.”
He placed another document on the desk.
The D. CARTER LEGACY transfers.
Daniel's face went pale.
Ethan watched him.
“Why are you moving $185,000 every Friday into an account named after a dead man?”
Daniel stared at the paper.
Then looked up.
“You should have stayed out of Bellweather.”
Ethan felt his stomach tighten.
“Did you know I was there?”
Daniel smiled without warmth.
“Of course.”
Ethan understood.
The disguise had failed.
Someone had identified him.
Someone had informed Daniel.
And someone had prepared a steak that Mia believed could kill him.
Daniel stood.
“You're making a mistake.”
Ethan looked at him.
“No.”
May you like
His voice was quiet.
“The mistake was trusting you.”
