Chapter 4 - THE SECRET MY FATHER TOOK TO HIS GRAVE
Thomas Vaughn had visited Naomi Price six months earlier.
He'd been frightened.
Not for himself.
For his children.
He told her he had discovered a scheme involving Northstar Freight, falsified cargo records, and illegal property transfers connected to Chicago's waterfront redevelopment.
He suspected senior executives were moving money through construction contracts while forcing small businesses off valuable land.
But he didn't know who controlled the scheme.
“He believed someone inside Mercer Urban was involved,” Naomi explained.
Tessa stared.
“Roman?”
“Your father wasn't sure.”
“Then why write that Roman must never know?”
Naomi opened a folder.
“Because Thomas believed someone was impersonating Roman's authority.”
She handed Tessa a copy of an internal memo.
It bore Roman Mercer's signature.
But the signature was visibly inconsistent with others in the file.
“Your father thought that if he approached Roman through normal company channels, the person forging the approvals would find out first.”
Tessa read the memo.
“Who had access?”
“Several executives.”
“Grant Holloway?”
Naomi nodded.
“And the company's chief financial officer, Malcolm Vane.”
Tessa remembered the silver-haired man in the photograph.
“That name.”
Naomi looked up.
“Do you recognize it?”
Tessa showed her the photograph.
Naomi's expression hardened.
“That's Vane.”
Roman arrived an hour later.
He stopped when he saw the photograph.
“Where did you get that?”
“My father's toolbox.”
Roman stared at the image.
Then looked away.
“Thomas tried to warn me.”
Tessa's stomach tightened.
“When?”
“Seven months ago. At a charity dinner.”
“What happened?”
“He told me someone was moving money through Pier Nine. I instructed Vane to arrange a meeting.”
Tessa went still.
“And?”
“Vane said Thomas withdrew his complaint.”
“My father would never do that.”
“I know that now.”
Roman's face was grim.
“Three days later, Thomas was dismissed.”
Tessa stared at him.
“You didn't check?”
Roman didn't answer immediately.
Then he said, “No.”
Her eyes filled.
“My father lost his job. He couldn't afford his medication. He was terrified. And you didn't check?”
Roman stood motionless.
“I failed him.”
Tessa looked away.
For months she'd imagined someone powerful could have saved her father.
Now that man stood in front of her.
And all he could offer was regret.
She gathered her things.
“I don't want your job.”
Roman nodded.
“Understood.”
“And I don't want your money.”
“Understood.”
She turned toward the door.
Then stopped.
“But I want the truth.”
Roman looked at her.
“So do I.”
She faced him.
“Then don't ask me to trust you.”
His expression softened.
May you like
“I won't.”
“Give me a reason to.”
