Chapter 17 - The Man Who Was Paid to ForgetArthur Sloane lived in a gated retirement community outside Saratoga Springs.
His house overlooked a carefully maintained golf course.
A polished sports car sat in the driveway.
Daniel found the contrast unsettling.
Three years earlier, Gabriel Reyes had lost his livelihood over invoices linked to North Quay Facilities.
Arthur, who had advised on those vendor arrangements, appeared to have retired comfortably.
Daniel did not visit alone.
Evelyn Ward accompanied him with a forensic accountant named Marcus Reed.
Arthur greeted them politely, although his smile disappeared when Evelyn explained the purpose of the meeting.
"I already settled my consulting matters with Mercer Hospitality," he said.
"We're examining the nature of that settlement," Evelyn replied.
Arthur folded his arms.
"Everything was handled legally."
"Then the documents should clarify it."
She placed a copy of the seven-hundred-and-fifty-thousand-dollar transfer on the table.
Arthur stared at it.
He did not ask where she had found it.
Daniel noticed.
"What were you paid for?" he asked.
Arthur looked toward the golf course.
"Confidential services."
"Which services?"
"Contract reconciliation."
Marcus opened a folder.
"According to the records we've reviewed, you certified that North Quay completed several maintenance projects at Aster House."
Arthur nodded.
"That was my role."
"Did you personally inspect the work?"
"I relied on reports."
"From whom?"
Arthur hesitated.
"Company personnel."
"Names?"
He looked at Daniel.
"This is becoming hostile."
Daniel kept his voice steady.
"Gabriel Reyes was accused of approving invoices for work that never happened. Did you know that?"
Arthur shifted.
"I understood there was an internal investigation."
"Did you know Gabriel disputed the invoices?"
"Yes."
"Then why did you certify them?"
Arthur looked at the payment record.
His expression changed.
For a moment, the comfortable retired consultant disappeared.
In his place sat an aging man who had spent years hoping nobody would reopen the past.
Evelyn leaned forward.
"Mr. Sloane, this is a voluntary conversation. You can consult your own attorney before answering."
Arthur stood.
"I think that's exactly what I'll do."
Daniel watched him move toward the door.
Then Arthur stopped.
"Victoria told me the work was substantially complete," he said quietly.
Everyone remained still.
Arthur continued.
"She said the engineering department was behind on paperwork and that Gabriel was creating problems because he disliked the new contractor."
Daniel felt his jaw tighten.
"Did you believe her?"
Arthur looked ashamed.
"I didn't ask enough questions."
Marcus pointed toward the transfer.
"And the settlement?"
Arthur's face hardened again.
"My lawyer will address that."
He opened the door.
The meeting was over.
In the car, Daniel stared out the window.
Evelyn spoke first.
"We should not assume his statement is complete or accurate."
"I know."
"But it's significant that he acknowledges certifying work based on Victoria's representations."
Daniel nodded.
Marcus examined the payment schedule.
"If his records match the bank transfers, we may be able to establish where the reserve funds went."
Daniel turned toward him.
"Have you found the ultimate recipients?"
"Not all of them."
"What have you found?"
Marcus hesitated.
"North Quay paid consulting fees to companies associated with Adrian's investment network. Some payments were supported by contracts. Others appear to lack a clear business purpose."
Daniel looked away.
He had welcomed Adrian into his family.
He had toasted his marriage to Victoria.
He had considered him ambitious but capable.
Now the possibility that Adrian had profited from misdirected company funds made Daniel feel physically ill.
Back at Aster House, Emily met Gabriel in the former engineering office.
Helen had authorized a supervised visit so Gabriel could explain the building's maintenance layout to the independent investigators.
For the first time in three years, he wore his old navy work jacket.
Emily had found it in a closet.
The Mercer Hospitality emblem was faded, but intact.
Gabriel ran a hand along a row of archived maintenance binders.
"I spent half my life in this building."
Emily watched him.
"Does it feel strange being back?"
He smiled sadly.
"I used to know every sound it made."
He pointed toward the ceiling.
"That rattle means the air handler on the third floor needs its bearings checked."
Emily laughed softly.
"You can still tell?"
"Some things stay with you."
They entered a narrow mechanical corridor.
Gabriel stopped beside a steel door.
"This is the room they claimed I approved repairs for."
Emily examined it.
A brass plaque identified the room as M-104.
"The invoice says B-17," she murmured.
Gabriel nodded.
"There is no B-17."
He reached into his pocket and removed a folded drawing.
"That numbering system belonged to a proposed extension. The extension was never built."
Emily studied the drawing.
Aster House's original renovation plans had been modified several times.
One outdated proposal included a second basement level.
The fictional invoices referenced locations from that abandoned design.
"Someone used old architectural plans," she said.
"Exactly."
"Someone who had access to planning documents."
Gabriel nodded.
"Not ordinary maintenance staff."
Emily stared at the drawing.
The false records were not random mistakes.
They had been built around details that looked legitimate to anyone unfamiliar with the hotel.
As they left the corridor, Helen approached.
"Your attorney called," she told Emily.
Emily's stomach tightened.
"What happened?"
"Arthur Sloane's lawyer has contacted the investigators."
"Why?"
Helen hesitated.
"He wants to discuss correcting his old certifications."
Gabriel gripped the edge of the doorway.
For three years, the company had treated his warnings as evidence of dishonesty.
Now one of the men who helped discredit him was considering withdrawing his support for the original accusation.
Gabriel looked at Emily.
His eyes filled with tears.
"Do you think they'll finally believe me?"
May you like
Emily took his hand.
"I think they're finally going to have to listen."
Related Stories
