Chapter 15 - The Third Partner
The anonymous sender requested a meeting.
Rachel insisted on choosing the location.
A federal building lobby would have been ideal.
The sender refused.
Finally they agreed on a hotel restaurant filled with cameras and business travelers.
A man arrived alone.
Daniel recognized him.
Peter Vale.
Former controller of Ashford Development.
He had resigned two years earlier citing health problems.
“You’ve been sending the messages,” Daniel said.
Peter nodded.
“Why hide?”
“Because Nathan destroyed Mark Ellison’s career with one file. He can destroy mine with ten.”
Rachel said, “What did you do?”
Peter looked ashamed.
“I taught Victoria your signature.”
Daniel stared.
Peter explained.
Nathan had recruited him five years earlier to help conceal Raven Ridge payments.
Peter had manipulated internal approval systems.
When Victoria entered the plan, she learned Daniel’s handwriting and digital authentication habits.
“She practiced for months.”
Daniel’s stomach turned.
“Where?”
“At Nathan’s apartment.”
“Before she met me.”
“Yes.”
Peter removed a folder.
Inside were scanned handwriting sheets.
Daniel’s signature repeated dozens of times.
Victoria’s notes surrounded them.
Angle.
Pressure.
D loop.
A connection between fraud and marriage became physical evidence.
Rachel asked, “Why keep this?”
“Insurance.”
“Against whom?”
“Everyone.”
Peter had also kept a partial ledger.
It showed twelve million of the eighteen-point-six million transferred into a private investment entity called Harbor Bridge Partners.
The beneficial owners were hidden.
But Peter knew where the complete ledger had been stored.
“On a black encrypted laptop.”
Daniel thought of the security footage.
“Nathan had it at the gala.”
“Yes.”
“Where is it now?”
Peter shook his head.
“Victoria took it.”
Daniel blinked.
“Nathan removed it from my office.”
“Then Victoria removed it from the laundry chute before police searched.”
Daniel remembered she had remained free in the house while officers focused on statements.
Rachel asked, “How do you know?”
“Victoria contacted me afterward. She wanted help decrypting it.”
“Did you?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because by then she was scared of Nathan.”
Daniel leaned forward.
“Why?”
Peter looked at him.
“Because Nathan never intended to share control.”
The partnership had always been temporary.
Nathan intended to blame the fraudulent documents on Victoria once Daniel was removed.
Victoria discovered emails proving it.
So she stole the laptop as leverage.
Daniel thought about her phone call.
Nathan is going to blame you.
He already has.
“What does Victoria want now?” Daniel asked.
“Money. Immunity. Escape.”
“She’s not getting any of those from me.”
Peter looked toward him.
“She might have something you need.”
“The ledger.”
“Yes.”
Rachel asked, “Where is she keeping it?”
“I don’t know.”
Daniel’s phone buzzed.
As if summoned by the conversation, Victoria had sent a message.
WE NEED TO TALK.
Daniel showed Rachel.
She shook her head.
“No private contact.”
He replied through counsel requesting terms.
Victoria answered:
TWENTY MILLION. PASSPORT. RELEASE OF ALL MARITAL CLAIMS.
Rachel laughed.
“Passport? She thinks you are the State Department?”
Another message arrived.
IN RETURN, YOU GET THE LEDGER.
Daniel stared.
Rachel said, “We inform Ruiz.”
They did.
Federal investigators wanted Victoria handled carefully.
No promises outside authority.
No payment.
No destruction of evidence.
Daniel agreed.
Then Victoria sent a photograph.
The black laptop.
On its screen was a spreadsheet.
HARBOR DISTRIBUTIONS.
Rows of payments.
Names.
Amounts.
Nathan appeared repeatedly.
So did Victoria.
Mark.
Peter.
Lila.
And one name Daniel did not expect.
Eleanor Price.
Daniel’s breath stopped.
The chairman.
The former judge.
The woman who had voted against extending his suspension.
Rachel stared at the image.
“That could be fabricated.”
Daniel called Eleanor.
She answered.
He said only, “Were you paid by Harbor Bridge Partners?”
Silence.
Daniel’s chest tightened.
“Eleanor?”
“Yes.”
Rachel stood.
Daniel closed his eyes.
“How much?”
“Two hundred fifty thousand.”
“Why?”
“Consulting work.”
“For Nathan?”
“No. For a redevelopment fund.”
“Did you know he controlled it?”
“Not then.”
“When did you learn?”
Another silence.
“Last week.”
Daniel’s anger rose.
“And you didn’t tell me?”
“I was preparing disclosure to the special committee.”
“You sat in judgment of me while hiding your own conflict.”
“I recused myself from relevant votes after I discovered it.”
“You voted on my suspension.”
“Before I knew.”
Daniel pressed a hand to his forehead.
Everyone had hidden something.
Even people who believed themselves honorable.
Eleanor said, “Daniel, listen carefully. If Victoria has the full ledger, Nathan will do almost anything to recover it.”
Daniel thought of the anonymous threats.
“Does he know she has it?”
“I suspect so.”
After the call, Victoria sent one final message.
MIDNIGHT TOMORROW.
ASHFORD MANOR BALLROOM.
COME ALONE.
Rachel read it.
“No.”
Daniel’s screen lit again.
IF YOU DON’T COME, I GIVE THE LAPTOP TO NATHAN.
Another message.
AND HE DESTROYS EVERYTHING.
May you like
Then the last one:
HE’S ALREADY ON HIS WAY BACK TO THE HOUSE.
