Chapter 6 - THE MANAGER WHO KNEW ABOUT THE BASEMENT
Greg Holloway had nearly taken away my livelihood because Vanessa Price demanded it.
Now I had a photograph showing him beside the hidden financial archive connected to Evelyn's Fund.
I didn't confront him.
Not immediately.
Rebecca advised me to preserve the photograph and let investigators verify the information.
I agreed.
For years, I'd been the kind of employee who apologized even when customers were wrong.
Now I was learning that speaking up didn't require shouting.
It required evidence.
The following morning, Alexander Calder requested another meeting.
This time, his grandfather joined us.
The old man introduced himself properly.
"Thomas Calder."
I smiled.
"It's nice to meet you, Mr. Calder."
He laughed softly.
"You already fed me."
I smiled.
"Chicken soup."
He nodded.
"The best I've had in years."
For a moment, the conversation felt ordinary.
Then Alexander placed the basement photograph on the table.
"Miss Carter, where did you get this?"
"My husband."
His expression changed.
"Mason worked on the renovation?"
I nodded.
"Yes."
Alexander looked toward his grandfather.
"Why didn't corporate disclose this archive?"
Thomas frowned.
"I don't know."
Rebecca explained the concerns.
The hidden cabinets.
The questionable payments.
The missing employee assistance records.
Alexander listened without interrupting.
Then he said something that surprised me.
"I've spent years relying on reports prepared by people I trusted."
He looked toward the photograph.
"That trust may have been misplaced."
Thomas slowly nodded.
"Your grandmother used to say numbers can lie when dishonest people decide what they mean."
My throat tightened.
Evelyn Calder sounded like someone I would have liked.
Then Alexander turned toward me.
"Miss Carter, I owe you another apology."
I blinked.
"For what?"
"For allowing a workplace where employees feared speaking up."
I studied him.
He seemed sincere.
But sincerity wouldn't pay rent.
Or return stolen funds.
Or restore jobs.
I took a breath.
"Then fix the system."
His expression changed.
Then he nodded.
"That's the plan."
The investigation expanded.
Independent auditors reviewed the foundation's accounts.
Employment lawyers examined complaints.
And financial investigators traced payments connected to Charles Price's consulting company.
Then they found something troubling.
Greg Holloway had received unusual bonuses.
Several were issued shortly after employee assistance applications were rejected.
I stared at the records.
"He was paid for rejecting people?"
Rebecca answered carefully.
"The timing raises questions. Investigators are examining the purpose of the payments."
I nodded.
Then Greg requested to speak with the investigators.
His statement changed everything.
He admitted receiving instructions from Charles Price to discourage employee applications.
He also acknowledged knowing about the hidden archive.
But he claimed he had never personally diverted money.
Then he said something unexpected.
"The archive wasn't hidden because of the fund."
Alexander frowned.
"Then why?"
Greg looked terrified.
"Because Charles was trying to find something your grandmother left behind."
Thomas went completely still.
"What?"
Greg swallowed.
"A letter."
My heart tightened.
"To whom?"
He looked toward Thomas.
Then whispered, "To you."
Thomas's hands began trembling.
May you like
Then Greg revealed the final detail.
"Charles has spent three years searching for Evelyn's final letter because it names the person who has been stealing from the company since before she died."
