Chapter 7 - THE PRICE OF BEING BELIEVED
Leandro introduced me to an attorney named Rebecca Hayes.
She specialized in financial fraud and employment disputes.
Unlike the men I'd dealt with at the gala, she didn't look at my dress, my body, or my bank account.
She looked at the evidence.
For three hours, we reviewed documents.
Donor records.
Payment authorizations.
Board meeting minutes.
Emails.
Rebecca noticed something almost immediately.
“Clare, these transfers were approved using your credentials.”
I stared.
“That's impossible.”
She turned the laptop toward me.
“Look at the timestamps.”
I leaned closer.
Several approvals had been recorded after midnight.
On dates when I was home asleep.
One transfer occurred while I was visiting my mother in Duluth.
I had photographs and receipts proving it.
Rebecca nodded.
“Good.”
“Good?”
“It means we have evidence someone used your credentials without authorization.”
I swallowed.
“Can we prove who?”
She looked at me.
“Possibly.”
Then she pointed to another document.
“This account belongs to a consulting company.”
I read the name.
Northstar Strategic Holdings.
Rebecca continued.
“The registered owner is a holding company controlled by Wesley Harkort.”
I stared.
Then whispered:
“He stole the money.”
Rebecca nodded.
“That's what the records suggest.”
My hands began shaking.
May you like
For the first time since the gala, I felt something stronger than humiliation.
Anger.
