Chapter 3 - The Missing Money
Adrian offered me a job.
I refused.
“I'm not qualified.”
“You're more qualified than half my executives.”
“I served tables.”
“You noticed fraud.”
“That doesn't make me an executive.”
“No.”
He smiled.
“It makes you honest.”
I looked at him.
That word felt strange.
Honest.
I'd never thought of honesty as something valuable.
Just something I couldn't afford to lose.
His mother invited me to dinner.
I almost declined.
Then she mentioned Ava.
“She'd like the garden.”
I went.
Ava was fascinated.
She ran through the enormous backyard.
Adrian watched her.
“She looks happy.”
“She usually is.”
“Despite everything?”
“Despite me.”
He looked confused.
“What do you mean?”
“I don't have much.”
He shook his head.
“You have her.”
That sentence stayed with me.
Dinner was peaceful.
Until Adrian's mother suddenly dropped her fork.
Her face went pale.
“What?”
She pointed toward the window.
“Someone is outside.”
Adrian stood.
Security moved immediately.
I pulled Ava closer.
A black car sped away.
Adrian's security team followed.
Then his mother whispered:
“They know.”
“Who?”
“The person who betrayed my husband.”
Adrian looked at me.
“Take Ava upstairs.”
I did.
Twenty minutes later, Adrian returned.
His face was grim.
“We found the car.”
“And?”
“Empty.”
His mother sat down.
Then she looked at me.
“Megan, I owe you the truth.”
I waited.
“My husband didn't die naturally.”
I froze.
“What?”
“He was murdered.”
The room went silent.
“Twenty years ago.”
I stared at her.
“Who?”
She shook her head.
“I don't know.”
“But you suspect someone.”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
She looked at Adrian.
Then at me.
“Frank Sullivan.”
I couldn't breathe.
“My manager?”
“He was an accountant for my husband.”
My stomach turned.
Then Adrian placed a photograph on the table.
A younger Frank.
Standing beside Adrian's father.
And behind them was the same gold crest I had seen on the private dining room.
I suddenly understood.
Frank hadn't been stealing tips.
May you like
He had been stealing something much bigger.
And my stopping to help his mother had exposed me to a secret that had been buried for twenty years.
