Chapter 5 - THE PRICE OF TELLING THE TRUTH
Adrian Thorne lived in a penthouse overlooking Lake Michigan.
The property belonged to a holding company registered in Delaware.
Its listed manager was a lawyer who represented three businesses connected to Northbridge.
Julian obtained the information through lawful corporate records.
Then he did something nobody expected.
He called his brother.
Adrian answered immediately.
"Julian."
His voice was warm.
Almost affectionate.
"Six years," Adrian said. "I wondered when you'd finally miss me."
Julian stared at the skyline.
"Forty million dollars."
A pause.
Then Adrian laughed.
"Still opening conversations with accusations?"
"Northbridge."
Silence.
"Tommy Hail."
A longer silence.
Julian continued.
"Come to my office tomorrow."
"Or what?"
"Or the next conversation happens through attorneys and investigators."
Adrian's tone changed.
"You've become sentimental."
"No."
Julian looked at the photograph on his desk.
"I've become tired of cleaning up after you."
The call ended.
Meanwhile, Dileia returned to Thorn Tower for a meeting with Rachel and Julian.
This time she entered through the front doors.
No cleaning cart.
No rubber gloves.
She wore a navy blazer borrowed from Mrs. Alvarez.
The receptionist stared.
Dileia recognized her.
The same woman who once directed her toward the service elevator.
"Can I help you?"
"I'm here to see Julian Thorne."
"Do you have an appointment?"
"Yes."
The receptionist checked her screen.
Her expression changed.
"Of course, Ms. Hail."
Dileia smiled.
"Funny how names look different when they're on the right list."
On the forty-second floor, Julian introduced her to Rachel's independent accounting team.
Dileia examined the available records.
The missing funds had moved through multiple legitimate vendors before reaching accounts connected to Adrian.
But the structure was more complicated than simple theft.
Some payments appeared to finance legal settlements.
Others went to shell companies.
And several were linked to hospitals and medical suppliers.
Dileia studied the dates.
Twenty-one days.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Then she noticed something.
"The payments aren't all the same kind."
Julian looked up.
"What do you mean?"
"Some are withdrawals. Some are reimbursements. And some are reversals disguised as new expenses."
Rachel leaned closer.
"Could they be laundering money?"
"Possibly. But look at the hospital-related entries."
She pointed.
"These payments correspond to incidents at shipping facilities."
Julian frowned.
"Workers' compensation?"
"No. They're routed outside the normal insurance system."
Dileia swallowed.
"Someone may have been paying hospitals and families to keep workplace incidents quiet."
The room fell silent.
Julian studied the ledger.
"How many incidents?"
Dileia counted.
"At least twelve."
Rachel's expression hardened.
"And Tommy may have discovered them."
Dileia nodded.
Then the conference-room door opened.
Martin Voss entered.
He stopped when he saw her.
For a second, his face changed.
Recognition.
Not surprise.
Recognition.
Dileia felt cold.
Martin looked toward Julian.
"What's she doing here?"
Julian's voice was calm.
"Helping us find forty million dollars."
Martin stared at Dileia.
Then smiled.
"Interesting choice."
Dileia studied his wrist.
A silver watch.
Black face.
Exactly like the photograph.
Martin noticed her looking.
His hand moved beneath the table.
Too late.
Dileia had seen it.
And suddenly she understood why Ruth had remembered the watch.
May you like
Martin Voss had been inside Tommy's apartment.
Before Tommy died.
