Chapter 13 - The Man With the Missing DocumentsSimon Keller had worked for Northstar for fourteen months.
He wasn't an inspector.
He was an operations coordinator, responsible for collecting contractor reports and preparing documentation for clients.
He knew exactly what the company had done.
And he knew how much trouble he could be in.
Rachel followed him to a quiet restaurant outside town.
They chose a table near the back.
Simon ordered coffee.
Rachel didn't order anything.
"What do you want?" she asked.
Simon placed a sealed envelope on the table.
"These are copies of inspection reports I was told to revise."
Rachel stared at it.
"Why are you showing me?"
"Because Adrian says I acted without authorization."
Rachel looked up sharply.
"He said that?"
"He had the company's attorney contact me yesterday. They want to know why some reports contain inconsistent dates."
Rachel gave a humorless laugh.
"Adrian approved those reports."
"I know."
"Then tell the attorney."
"I did."
Simon rubbed his forehead.
"He says he never instructed me to certify work that wasn't performed."
Rachel looked at the envelope.
"What exactly did you change?"
"Inspection dates. Contractor names. Completion statuses."
"Did you invent inspections?"
Simon hesitated.
"Some inspections happened later than the documents claimed. Others were limited site visits described as full assessments."
Rachel stared at him.
"You told me the records were complete."
"I told you the paperwork was complete."
She leaned back.
The distinction was devastating.
Simon continued.
"Emma Carter asked questions. She noticed the pool alarm wasn't working properly. Adrian told me to obtain her notes."
Rachel remembered.
Emma had stood in her office with a safety checklist.
She hadn't shouted.
She hadn't threatened.
She had simply asked why the equipment wasn't functioning despite repeated inspection approvals.
Rachel had smiled and promised to investigate.
Then she'd called Adrian.
Simon looked at her.
"I didn't know you were going to blame her for what happened to the little girl."
Rachel stiffened.
"Be careful."
"I watched the video, Mrs. Mercer. Everyone has."
"Not everyone."
"Enough people."
Rachel looked toward the restaurant window.
Rain was beginning to fall.
"What do you want from me?" she repeated.
"I want to know whether you're going to tell the truth."
Rachel laughed.
"That's a strange question from someone who changed inspection records."
Simon accepted the accusation.
"You're right."
He pushed the envelope closer.
"I've spoken with a lawyer. I'm preserving what I have and cooperating with the independent review. These copies are to show you what Adrian is denying."
Rachel didn't touch the envelope.
"Why tell me?"
"Because I thought you might convince him to stop blaming me."
"That was foolish."
Simon stood.
"Probably."
He took the envelope back.
Rachel watched him leave.
Her hands were shaking.
For months, she had thought of Simon as a minor employee who would follow instructions.
Now he was becoming a witness.
At Mercer Harbor Holdings, Rebecca Shaw and her team were comparing the company's payment records with the charitable fund's independently authorized audit material.
They had established several troubling facts.
Northstar had billed for services that lacked sufficient evidence of completion.
Some expenses had been allocated to more than one paying entity without adequate support.
Brightwater had received substantial payments associated with those projects.
And Adrian had not disclosed his business relationship with Northstar through the company's established conflict-of-interest process.
But Rebecca refused to call the entire amount stolen.
Not yet.
Some work had occurred.
Some contractors had been paid.
The auditors needed to separate legitimate costs from unsupported or fraudulent charges.
Daniel respected her caution.
He was learning to distinguish anger from evidence.
"What can we do immediately?" he asked.
"Stop disputed payments, preserve records, and strengthen purchasing approvals," Rebecca answered. "Then pursue the remaining documentation."
Daniel nodded.
Olivia entered the room.
"There's another issue."
She handed him a bank letter.
Mercer Harbor Holdings had breached a financial reporting covenant under its operating credit agreement.
The lender was requesting updated financial information and a remediation plan.
Daniel read the letter.
"Why am I hearing about this now?"
Olivia looked uncomfortable.
"The lender sent notices to Adrian's office. This is the first one copied directly to you."
Daniel closed his eyes.
His company wasn't merely suffering from questionable vendor payments.
It was under genuine financial pressure.
The marina contracts had consumed far more working capital than expected.
A major client was disputing a construction change order.
And the company's cash reserves were thinner than Daniel had been told.
"How bad?" he asked.
Olivia took a breath.
"We need a financing plan before the lender's next review. The latest cash forecast shows a serious shortfall if two customer payments are delayed."
Daniel looked at the figures.
He had been so focused on Rachel's possible wrongdoing that he'd nearly missed the consequences of his own poor oversight.
Then Rebecca spoke.
"Daniel, there's something you need to understand."
He looked up.
"Even if every questionable Northstar payment is recovered, that won't solve the company's underlying financial problems."
For the first time, Daniel understood the temptation Adrian had placed before him.
Eight-point-four million dollars for a piece of Wren Point.
Enough to relieve enormous pressure.
Enough to keep the company operating while he fixed its mistakes.
But the land belonged to Lucy's trust.
He could not turn his daughter's future into a convenient rescue for his business.
That night, Daniel returned to Wren Point.
Lucy was asleep.
He stood in the doorway of her bedroom, watching her breathe.
Then he went downstairs and opened the bank letter again.
His phone rang.
Rachel.
He hesitated before answering.
"What do you want?"
Her voice sounded tired.
"I heard about the lender."
Daniel closed his eyes.
"How?"
"Adrian told me weeks ago."
He went still.
"Weeks?"
"Daniel, the company needs money."
"That's my responsibility."
"We could still solve it."
He knew what she meant.
"No."
"At least listen."
"No, Rachel."
Her voice sharpened.
"You're willing to lose the company rather than sell a stretch of unused shoreline?"
"It's not mine to sell."
"We're talking about Lucy's future."
"Exactly."
Rachel went silent.
Then she said something Daniel would remember for the rest of his life.
"You keep acting as if protecting her means protecting every piece of dirt Nora's family left behind."
Daniel looked toward the dark windows.
"Protecting Lucy means not teaching her that adults can take what belongs to her whenever they find it convenient."
Rachel breathed heavily.
"You'll regret this."
Daniel answered quietly.
"I already regret more than you know."
May you like
He ended the call.
And for the first time, he began preparing to save his company without sacrificing his daughter's inheritance.
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