Chapter 4 - THE OFFER
Marcus slid the USB into his pocket before opening the door.
Malcolm Reed was waiting inside the general manager’s office.
He looked almost exactly as I remembered him from Daniel’s funeral.
Expensive gray suit.
Silver tie.
Calm eyes.
The kind of man who never seemed rushed because other people were expected to hurry for him.
Beside him sat Vanessa Carter.
No dog this time.
No designer sunglasses.
No tears over her missing ring.
She looked furious.
My former manager, Mr. Lowell, stood near the window.
“Rachel,” he began, “there appears to have been a misunderstanding.”
I laughed.
“A misunderstanding got me fired.”
Vanessa crossed one leg over the other.
“My ring was found.”
“Where?”
She hesitated.
“In my luggage.”
A lie.
Marcus and I both knew it.
Mr. Lowell cleared his throat.
“Given the circumstances, the hotel is prepared to reinstate you immediately.”
“No.”
Everyone looked at me.
I surprised myself.
Twenty-four hours earlier, I would have begged for that job.
Now something mattered more.
Vanessa narrowed her eyes.
“What do you want?”
“The truth.”
Malcolm spoke for the first time.
“That is rarely as satisfying as people imagine.”
I looked at him.
“You knew my husband.”
“Yes.”
“You went to his funeral.”
“I respected Daniel.”
“Did you threaten him?”
Mr. Lowell looked confused.
Vanessa’s expression changed.
Malcolm remained calm.
“No.”
“Did you go inside our house?”
He paused.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Daniel invited me.”
“Why?”
“To discuss work.”
Vanessa suddenly leaned forward.
“This is ridiculous.”
I turned toward her.
“Why did you leave a photograph of my husband in your hotel room?”
Mr. Lowell’s head snapped toward her.
She said nothing.
Marcus shifted slightly.
Malcolm noticed.
His eyes dropped toward Marcus’s jacket pocket.
Only for half a second.
But I saw it.
He knew.
“You found something,” he said.
Marcus smiled without humor.
“What makes you think that?”
Malcolm ignored him.
He looked at me.
“Rachel, Daniel became paranoid toward the end of his life.”
I stepped closer.
“He recorded you.”
For the first time, Malcolm’s face changed.
Tiny.
Almost invisible.
But enough.
Vanessa stood.
“What exactly did he record?”
Now I knew.
They had no idea what was on the USB.
I folded my arms.
“Why are you asking?”
Malcolm’s voice softened.
“Because Daniel took proprietary company information shortly before he became ill.”
“Company information?”
“Yes.”
“You mean evidence.”
Vanessa snapped:
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Then explain the fake cancer patients.”
Silence.
Mr. Lowell looked from one person to another.
“What fake patients?”
Malcolm ignored him.
Instead, he reached into his suit jacket.
Marcus immediately stepped forward.
Malcolm slowly removed an envelope.
He placed it on the desk.
“Twenty thousand dollars.”
I stared at him.
“For what?”
“Your inconvenience.”
I almost laughed.
“You fired me yesterday without even being my employer.”
“This is not from the hotel.”
“Then what is it for?”
He looked directly at me.
“To let your husband rest.”
My anger became cold.
“What happens if I don’t?”
Malcolm sighed.
“Then difficult questions get asked.”
“About you?”
“No.”
His eyes moved toward me.
“About Daniel.”
My heart tightened.
Vanessa smiled for the first time.
“Your husband wasn’t as innocent as you think.”
She reached into her handbag.
Then placed a photocopy on the desk.
It was a bank statement.
Daniel Bennett.
An account I had never seen.
Balance:
May you like
$312,480.
And the largest deposit had come from Harbor Health.
