Chapter 9: The Locked Cabinet
At 4:30 p.m., Michael received a call from the independent accountant.
He listened for almost ten minutes.
Then he put the phone down.
"We have a problem.""
I rubbed my face.
"Another one?""
"The bank has confirmed that the $500,000 loan application was submitted with supporting financial statements that appear to have been altered.""
I stared at him.
"Altered how?""
"Your company was shown as having guaranteed repayment. The statements also listed several assets that your company doesn't own.""
"Which assets?""
Michael opened a document.
"Two commercial properties, an investment portfolio, and a residential property.""
I frowned.
"The residential property?""
"Your parents' house.""
I almost laughed.
"My parents don't own that house outright.""
"I know. Your company has been making the mortgage payments, but the property is registered in your father's name.""
I sat back.
"So he listed assets he doesn't own.""
"That's what the records currently suggest.""
"Why?""
"To make the loan application look stronger.""
I looked at the altered statement.
Then at the account containing nearly half a million dollars.
Then at the email instructing the accountant to keep me out of the transactions.
Everything was connected.
But I still didn't understand why my father had gone to such lengths.
At 5:02 p.m., Vanessa called again.
This time, she was crying before I could say hello.
"Daniel, Dad found out I sent you the statement.""
"How?""
"He checked his office computer. He knows I photographed the documents.""
"Where are you?""
"At the house.""
"Are you safe?""
She didn't answer immediately.
"He's furious.""
I closed my eyes.
"Vanessa, you need to stay calm.""
"He said I betrayed him.""
"Don't argue with him.""
"Daniel, he took my phone.""
I stood up.
"How are you calling me?""
"I'm using Mom's old tablet. He doesn't know.""
I looked at Michael.
He was already writing something down.
"Listen to me," I said.
"Don't take anything from the office. Don't delete anything. If you feel unsafe, leave the house and contact someone you trust.""
"He's saying the money is my fault.""
"Did you move any of it?""
"No!""
"Did you know about the account?""
"I knew Dad had an account for business expenses. I didn't know it was connected to your company.""
I paused.
"Vanessa, did you sign documents for him?""
She began crying harder.
"Yes.""
"How many?""
"I don't know. Maybe four or five.""
"What did they say?""
"He told me they were authorizations.""
"For what?""
"Payments. Tax records. I didn't read all of them.""
I rubbed my forehead.
"That's a serious mistake.""
"I know!""
She started sobbing.
Then I heard a man's voice in the background.
"WHO ARE YOU TALKING TO?""
The call ended.
I stared at the screen.
Michael stood.
"We need to make sure she is safe.""
"I agree.""
"Do you have her address?""
"My parents' house.""
"Call her back.""
I tried.
No answer.
I called my mother.
She answered after the second ring.
"Daniel?""
"Is Vanessa okay?""
"She's in her room.""
"Did Dad take her phone?""
My mother was silent.
"Mom.""
"He's upset.""
"That wasn't my question.""
She lowered her voice.
"He said she shouldn't be talking to you.""
I looked at Michael.
"Can you put Vanessa on?""
"Not right now.""
"Why?""
"Your father is in his study.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Is the cabinet still locked?""
My mother stopped breathing for a moment.
Then she whispered:
"Yes.""
"Did you see what's inside?""
"No. But I saw the folders.""
"What folders?""
"One had your name. Another had Vanessa's.""
I closed my eyes.
"What else?""
She hesitated.
Then she said:
"One said Mediterranean Holdings.""
I looked at Michael.
He immediately wrote the name down.
"Mom, listen to me. Don't touch anything. Don't confront Dad. If you feel unsafe, leave the house.""
"Daniel, I don't want to lose my marriage.""
I swallowed.
"Then you need to stop protecting someone who might be putting you in danger.""
She began crying.
"I didn't know.""
I softened my voice.
"I know.""
After the call, Michael contacted the company's legal team.
We agreed to preserve all available records, notify the relevant financial institutions, and arrange an independent review of the transactions.
I wanted answers.
But I wasn't going to make the mistake of confronting my father without knowing what we were dealing with.
At 6:17 p.m., an unfamiliar number called.
I answered.
"Hello?""
A man's voice came through.
"Mr. Hayes? My name is Andrew Collins. I'm calling from the private banking division at First National.""
"How can I help you?""
"We received instructions concerning an account associated with Hayes Strategic Holdings.""
I straightened.
"What instructions?""
"A request to change the authorized signatory and transfer the remaining balance to another institution.""
My stomach dropped.
"Who submitted the request?""
"Mr. Richard Hayes.""
"When?""
"Approximately forty minutes ago.""
I looked at Michael.
"Was the request approved?""
"No. We placed it on hold because the supporting documentation requires additional verification.""
"Thank you. Please preserve the request and all associated records.""
"Of course, sir.""
I ended the call.
Michael stared at me.
"He's trying to move the money.""
"Can he?""
"Not if the bank properly verifies the account authority and follows the restrictions already in place.""
I walked to the window.
My father was no longer simply defending his reputation.
He was trying to move money.
Possibly evidence.
And perhaps he knew the investigation was getting too close.
At 7:03 p.m., Clara called me from the bedroom.
"Daniel?""
I went to her immediately.
She was sitting on the bed, looking at her phone.
"What's wrong?""
She turned the screen toward me.
There was a message from Vanessa.
*Vanessa:* Please tell Daniel I found something in Dad's locked cabinet. I don't think he knows I saw it.
My pulse quickened.
I read the message again.
Then another message arrived.
*Vanessa:* There are documents with Daniel's signature, but they're dated before his company was even established.
I stared at the screen.
"How could that be?""
Clara looked frightened.
"What's happening?""
I sat beside her.
"I don't know yet.""
My phone rang.
Vanessa.
I answered.
"Where are you?""
"I'm outside.""
"Outside where?""
"At the house. I left.""
"Are you safe?""
"Yes. I'm in my car.""
"What did you find?""
Her voice trembled.
"Dad has been keeping copies of documents in the cabinet. There are contracts, bank statements, and photographs of signatures.""
"Whose signatures?""
"Yours.""
I looked at Michael.
He stepped closer.
Vanessa continued.
"But there's something else.""
"What?""
"I found a folder with Mom's name on it.""
I frowned.
"What about it?""
"There's a document saying she agreed to transfer ownership of something.""
"Of what?""
Vanessa began crying.
"The Mediterranean property.""
I froze.
"What property?""
She whispered:
"Daniel, I don't think Dad was planning to use that money for the vacation.""
I looked at Michael.
He had gone completely still.
Vanessa continued.
"I think the vacation was supposed to be a cover for something much bigger.""
Then she sent me one final photograph.
It showed a document bearing my father's signature.
At the top were four words:
*Irrevocable Transfer of Ownership.*
And beneath them was the name of a property in the south of France that I had never heard of.
The registered buyer was a company I owned.
May you like
The seller was my father.
And the purchase price was listed as one dollar.
