Chapter 4 - THE COMPANY OF A DEAD WOMAN
Arthur took me into a small private office behind the restaurant.
Daniel joined us.
So did an attorney from corporate headquarters.
Charles Price and Vanessa were told to remain in the dining room.
For once, neither objected.
Arthur closed the door.
“My wife’s name was Margaret.”
I knew that from the company history.
Margaret Calder Foundation.
Scholarships.
Charitable work.
The elegant woman smiling beside Arthur in old photographs.
“Northline was never supposed to be a vendor,” Arthur said.
Daniel stared.
“You knew about it?”
“No.”
Arthur looked at his son.
“That was intentional.”
Daniel’s expression hardened.
“You created a secret company and didn’t tell me?”
“Your mother did.”
“For what?”
“Internal investigations.”
The attorney frowned.
“Private intelligence?”
Arthur shook his head.
“Employee protection.”
Margaret believed official complaint channels were useless if powerful executives controlled them.
So she quietly created Northline as an independent entity capable of hiring outside investigators, auditors, and lawyers.
“She funded it personally,” Arthur said.
Daniel looked stunned.
“Then why is Calder paying Northline now?”
“That’s what I intend to find out.”
I thought about Mason.
“Could someone have taken the company after she died?”
Arthur nodded slowly.
“Control passed to a trustee.”
“Who?”
Arthur hesitated.
Then looked at Daniel.
“Charles.”
Daniel stood.
“You made Charles Price trustee?”
“Your mother did.”
“Why?”
“At the time, he was one of her closest professional allies.”
Arthur’s voice became bitter.
“Apparently we were wrong.”
I remembered something.
“Mason said payments are being made from Calder hotels.”
Arthur nodded.
“If Charles controls Northline, he could invoice Calder for fake consulting work.”
The attorney added:
“Then move the money elsewhere.”
Daniel paced.
“How much?”
“I don’t know.”
I lifted my phone.
“Mason does.”
Daniel turned.
“Your husband?”
“He audited the division.”
Arthur looked at me sharply.
“He has records?”
“Some.”
“Where?”
“He won’t tell me over the phone.”
Smart.
Daniel reached for his phone.
“We need him here.”
I shook my head.
“No.”
Everyone stared.
“If Charles got Mason fired, I’m not bringing him into a building Charles controls.”
Daniel looked offended.
“I control this building.”
Arthur smiled faintly.
“Do you?”
That shut him up.
Arthur turned to me.
“Where would your husband feel safe?”
“At home.”
“Charles may know your address.”
My stomach dropped.
“How?”
“If Mason’s employment file was accessed.”
I called him.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
My hands started shaking.
“Mason.”
Arthur’s face changed.
“Call a neighbor.”
I called Mrs. Delgado from downstairs.
She answered on the second ring.
“Lily?”
“Can you check if Mason is home?”
Pause.
“I saw him leave ten minutes ago.”
“Leave?”
“With who?”
“I don’t know. A man in a gray coat.”
My blood froze.
“Did he look upset?”
“He looked nervous.”
Then she added:
“He gave me something.”
“What?”
“A yellow envelope. He said if you called, I should tell you it’s under your doormat.”
Arthur and Daniel exchanged a look.
I hung up.
Daniel said:
“We go now.”
Twenty minutes later, three cars pulled outside my apartment.
The envelope was exactly where Mrs. Delgado said.
Inside was a flash drive.
And a handwritten note from Mason.
Lily,
If I’m not home, do not assume I left willingly.
My legs weakened.
Below it:
The audit is on this drive.
But that wasn’t all.
There was a photograph.
Charles Price shaking hands with Mason’s former supervisor.
And on the back Mason had written:
May you like
THE MAN WHO FIRED ME DOESN’T WORK FOR THE ACCOUNTING FIRM.
HE WORKS FOR CHARLES.
