Chapter 6 - The Company With Her NameRiverstone Farm Management was technically real.
That made everything more complicated.
It had a business license.
Tax ID.
Bank account.
Invoices.
Services listed:
Farm administration.
Grant consulting.
Vendor negotiation.
Agricultural development strategy.
Some work had actually been performed.
By Denise.
While also living at Cedar Hollow and managing its office.
Clayton stared at the invoices.
“She paid herself twice.”
Rachel corrected him.
“Potentially.”
“She was already supported by the household.”
“That is not the legal question.”
Rachel pointed to the records.
“Did the LLC authorize these related-party payments?”
No.
“Were they disclosed?”
No.
“Did you approve the invoices?”
Several carried Clayton’s electronic signature.
He stared.
“I never saw those.”
Rachel’s expression changed.
“Are you certain?”
“Yes.”
“Never sign blank approvals?”
“No.”
“Share password?”
Clayton closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
The forensic accountant began reviewing authentication logs.
Meanwhile Denise’s attorney responded.
Riverstone payments had compensated Denise for substantial work beyond ordinary household duties.
That argument was not absurd.
Denise had improved Cedar Hollow.
She renegotiated feed contracts.
Secured an energy grant.
Expanded direct milk sales.
Farm revenue increased eighteen percent during her management.
Some employees admired her.
Some suppliers did too.
At the feed store, an old friend told Clayton:
“You’re making a mistake.”
“What mistake?”
“Denise saved your farm.”
Clayton stared.
“So she can lock Wyatt in the barn?”
“No. I’m saying people are complicated.”
That irritated him because it was true.
Denise had done good work.
Real work.
She had also abused power.
One did not cancel the other.
The forensic accountant separated transactions.
Legitimate reimbursements.
Questionable management fees.
Unsupported invoices.
Then something larger appeared.
Riverstone received a $25,000 payment from Great Plains Renewable Energy.
Clayton frowned.
“Why?”
Rachel opened the memo.
LAND TRANSITION CONSULTING.
Great Plains had approached Cedar Hollow six months earlier about a thirty-year solar lease on ninety acres.
Clayton declined.
The rent looked attractive.
The restrictions did not.
The project would take prime cropland and complicate dairy expansion.
Denise had argued for it.
Strongly.
Clayton assumed she simply liked the money.
Now her private company had already been paid by the developer.
Rachel looked at him.
“Did she disclose this?”
“No.”
“Then this is your conflict.”
The red folder finally had a likely purpose.
Cedar Hollow restructure.
Solar lease.
Wyatt’s thirty percent.
May you like
Money.
And Denise.
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