Chapter 5 - THE MAN WHO TOOK MASON
My husband had been watched for months.
The flash drive proved it.
There were copies of emails between Mason’s former supervisor, Dennis Cole, and Charles Price.
One message read:
Bennett is asking the wrong questions.
Another:
Terminate him before Q4 review.
Then:
Make sure no competitor hires him until we resolve exposure.
I stared at those words.
Thirty-seven job applications.
Four interviews.
No offers.
It had not been bad luck.
Charles Price had quietly blacklisted my husband.
Daniel looked furious.
Arthur looked worse.
Not angry.
Ashamed.
“This happened under my name,” he said.
I shook my head.
“Your company’s name.”
“There is no difference to the people harmed.”
That was the first thing he said that made me understand why he had built the company in the first place.
Then the attorney opened the financial files.
Millions.
Northline had billed Calder properties for:
Service culture consulting.
Guest reputation analysis.
Leadership development.
Executive retention strategy.
Most services had no supporting work product.
Just invoices.
In four years:
$18.7 million.
Daniel whispered:
“My God.”
Arthur didn’t speak.
I searched for Mason’s notes.
One folder was labeled PRICE FAMILY.
Inside were transactions from Northline to another company.
V.P. Advisory.
Daniel looked at me.
“Vanessa Price?”
“Maybe.”
The attorney opened the registration record.
Owner:
Vanessa Price.
Payments:
$4.2 million.
Daniel stood.
“She’s laundering company money through her daughter.”
Arthur corrected him.
“We don’t know enough yet.”
I almost admired his restraint.
Then we found another folder.
EMPLOYEE CASES.
Hundreds of names.
Servers.
Housekeepers.
Managers.
Bartenders.
People who had complained about wage issues or executive abuse.
Beside some names were labels.
DIFFICULT.
DISLOYAL.
DO NOT REHIRE.
My name appeared at the bottom.
Added less than an hour earlier.
LILY CARTER — TERMINATION RECOMMENDED.
My stomach turned.
Daniel looked horrified.
“This system shouldn’t exist.”
Arthur stared at the screen.
“It didn’t when Margaret was alive.”
Then my phone rang.
Mason.
I answered instantly.
“Where are you?”
Silence.
Then a man spoke.
Not Mason.
“Mrs. Carter?”
My blood went cold.
“Who is this?”
“My name is Dennis Cole.”
The supervisor.
The man who fired Mason.
Daniel moved closer.
Arthur signaled for silence.
Dennis continued.
“Your husband is safe.”
“Put him on.”
“He’s unavailable.”
“Then you’re lying.”
A pause.
Then Mason’s voice came faintly in the background.
“Lily, don’t—”
The line muffled.
I gripped the phone.
“What do you want?”
Dennis answered:
“The flash drive.”
Arthur whispered:
“Keep him talking.”
I said:
“I don’t know what you mean.”
Dennis laughed.
“Mason always said you were smarter than people assumed.”
“Where is he?”
“Bring the drive to the old Calder Lakeside Hotel.”
Daniel’s face changed.
“That property is closed,” he whispered.
Dennis continued.
“Midnight.”
“Why should I trust you?”
“You shouldn’t.”
Then another voice entered the call.
Charles Price.
“Because, Lily, if you don’t come, your husband’s career will be the least of your problems.”
I felt pure rage.
Then Charles said:
“And bring Arthur Calder.”
Arthur’s face went still.
May you like
Charles continued.
“He and I have unfinished business.”
