Chapter 6: The Husband Who Knew Too Much
I stared at my phone.
For several seconds, I couldn't speak.
James was supposed to be on his way to Las Vegas.
He had told me he was worried about me and wanted to be with his daughter.
Now he was warning me not to let my father sign anything.
"James," I whispered, "what are you talking about?""
My father immediately looked at me.
He could hear the tension in my voice.
James continued.
"I need you to listen. Has David Whitmore shown your father any documents tonight?""
I glanced toward David.
"Yes.""
"What kind?""
"I don't know. Something about the hotel's ownership.""
James exhaled sharply.
"Danielle, please. Tell him not to sign anything.""
My father held out his hand.
I gave him the phone.
"James.""
There was silence.
Then my husband spoke.
"Marcus.""
My father looked toward the glass doors.
"Where are you?""
"At the airport. I'm waiting for a connection.""
"Why are you telling my daughter not to sign anything?""
"Because I found something.""
"What?""
James hesitated.
"A document connecting Victoria Hale to the attempted transfer of a hotel subsidiary.""
My father's eyes narrowed.
"Explain.""
James lowered his voice.
"Two months ago, I was reviewing some financial records for a client. I came across a series of payments involving Hale Hospitality Consulting. At first, I thought they were ordinary marketing expenses. Then I found a reference to a proposed acquisition.""
My father glanced at David.
"Acquisition of what?""
"One of the operating subsidiaries under Brooks Hospitality.""
David immediately looked up.
My father remained calm.
"Who authorized it?""
James paused.
"That's the problem. The documents carry a preliminary authorization associated with your office.""
My father frowned.
"I never authorized an acquisition.""
"I know.""
"Then whose signature is on it?""
James took a breath.
"Someone used a digital authorization template.""
David stepped closer.
"James, this is David Whitmore. Do you have the original document?""
"Yes. I sent a copy to my attorney.""
"Don't send anything else until we establish the chain of custody.""
"Understood.""
My father looked at me.
"Danielle, sit down.""
I was already sitting.
But my knees felt weak.
"James, are you saying someone is trying to steal Dad's company?""
My husband answered carefully.
"I'm saying someone may be using the company's internal processes to transfer assets without proper authorization.""
My father looked toward the lobby.
Victoria was now standing near the entrance, speaking to a security officer.
Richard had disappeared from sight.
Then my father asked a question.
"Does the name Daniel Cross appear anywhere?""
James was silent.
A second passed.
Then another.
"Yes.""
My father's jaw tightened.
"How much do you know?""
"Not enough. But I found correspondence between Cross and an account associated with Victoria's consulting company.""
David looked at my father.
"Daniel Cross is the minority investor in the holding group.""
I turned toward them.
"Who is Daniel Cross?""
My father answered.
"Someone I've done business with for years.""
"Do you trust him?""
He didn't answer immediately.
That was enough.
I looked at the document David was holding.
"Could he have been involved in what happened tonight?""
My father shook his head.
"Let's not jump to conclusions.""
James interrupted.
"Marcus, there's something else. The document I found includes a clause that becomes active if the controlling investor is unavailable to approve transactions.""
My father frowned.
"What clause?""
"Emergency executive delegation.""
David went still.
"That's impossible.""
My father turned.
"Why?""
David looked through the portfolio.
"Because that clause was removed from the operating agreement last year.""
James spoke again.
"Then someone may be using an outdated version.""
My father looked at David.
"Check the records.""
David nodded and walked several steps away to make a call.
I watched my father carefully.
"Is this why you came here tonight?""
"No, sweetheart.""
"Are you sure?""
He looked at me.
"I came because I wanted to see my daughter and granddaughter. Everything else can wait.""
I shook my head.
"But someone is using your business to hurt people.""
His expression softened.
"That's why we investigate. We don't make accusations without evidence.""
Then he gently touched my cheek.
"And we don't forget why we're here.""
Amara stirred in my arms.
I rocked her slowly.
My father smiled at her.
"She's going to need a better bedtime story than all this.""
I laughed despite myself.
For a moment, the tension eased.
Then David returned.
"Marcus, we have a problem.""
My father looked up.
"What?""
"The preliminary acquisition document was accessed using credentials assigned to your executive office.""
"Who had access?""
David checked his notes.
"Three people. You, me, and Daniel Cross.""
My father stared at him.
"Did you access it?""
"No.""
"Did I?""
David shook his head.
"Not according to the access logs.""
My father looked toward the security supervisor.
"Can the company verify the access location?""
"That would require the IT department.""
"Contact them.""
David nodded.
I looked between them.
"Does that mean Daniel did it?""
My father answered immediately.
"No. It means the credentials were used. We still need to establish who actually accessed them.""
Then Angela approached.
"Mr. Brooks, there's another development.""
My father turned.
"What now?""
"Richard Coleman has requested to speak with you privately.""
"Why?""
"He says he has information about the payments and Ms. Hale's relationship with the company.""
David folded his arms.
"Has he provided anything in writing?""
"No.""
My father looked toward the police officers.
"Has he been interviewed?""
"Not yet.""
"Then let him speak to the appropriate investigators first.""
Angela nodded.
But before she could leave, Richard appeared from the corridor.
His tie was loose.
His face was damp with sweat.
He looked at my father.
"Mr. Brooks, I need to tell you something.""
My father remained seated.
"Go ahead.""
Richard glanced at the officers.
"Not in front of them.""
The officer stepped forward.
"Sir, anything you say concerning this incident may be relevant to our investigation.""
Richard swallowed.
"Fine.""
He turned toward my father.
"Victoria didn't just receive payments. She was helping someone inside the company.""
My father stared at him.
"Who?""
Richard looked at David.
Then at me.
Then he lowered his voice.
"Daniel Cross.""
I felt my stomach drop.
My father didn't react.
"How?""
Richard rubbed his hands together.
"He approached me about eighteen months ago. He said the hotel needed a more efficient guest relations program. He offered to help improve our VIP strategy.""
"Through Victoria?""
"Yes.""
"And the payments?""
"Some were consulting fees. Others were compensation for keeping certain complaints from reaching corporate management.""
Angela looked horrified.
"You're admitting that you deliberately concealed complaints?""
Richard nodded.
"I was following instructions.""
My father leaned forward.
"Whose instructions?""
Richard looked toward the floor.
"Daniel's.""
David spoke sharply.
"Do you have evidence?""
Richard nodded.
"I kept copies of the emails.""
"Where?""
"In my office.""
Angela shook her head.
"Your office has already been secured.""
Richard looked frightened.
"Then they're still there?""
"Security is preserving the records.""
He looked toward my father.
"Please understand. I didn't know it would go this far.""
My father studied him.
"You knew enough to dismiss my daughter without investigating what happened to her.""
Richard's face crumpled slightly.
"I know.""
"You knew enough to fire an employee who refused to falsify a report.""
Richard lowered his head.
"Yes.""
"You knew enough to accept money while complaints disappeared.""
He said nothing.
My father stood.
"Then don't ask me to understand your position. Tell the investigators the truth.""
Richard nodded.
The police officer escorted him toward the interview area.
Victoria watched from across the lobby.
When Richard passed her, she grabbed his arm.
"Don't say anything.""
The officer immediately intervened.
"Ma'am, let go.""
Victoria released him.
Richard looked at her.
For a second, their eyes met.
Then he turned away.
I watched the exchange.
Something about it unsettled me.
"Dad?""
He looked at me.
"What is it?""
"Why does Victoria look so frightened?""
My father glanced toward her.
"Because she may be realizing that the people who protected her aren't going to protect her anymore.""
Just then, my phone vibrated again.
It was a message from James.
I'm sending you a document. Please don't open it in front of anyone until you are with your father.
A file appeared beneath the message.
I looked at the screen.
The filename was:
*BROOKS_HOLDINGS_TRANSFER_FINAL.pdf*
My heart began racing.
"What's that?"" my father asked.
"James sent me something.""
He leaned closer.
I opened the document.
The first page showed a proposed transfer of controlling shares in one of my father's companies.
The second page contained the names of the proposed recipients.
And the third page contained a digital signature.
I recognized the name immediately.
It wasn't Daniel Cross.
It wasn't Richard Coleman.
It wasn't Victoria Hale.
It was my husband's.
*James Brooks.*
I stared at the screen.
My father looked over my shoulder.
His face changed.
"Where did you get this?""
"James just sent it.""
My father took the phone.
He studied the signature.
Then he looked at me.
"Danielle, does James have access to any of my company's financial records?""
I shook my head.
"No. He works in finance, but he doesn't work for you.""
My father looked back at the document.
Then his phone rang.
The caller ID displayed James's name.
My father answered.
"James.""
My husband spoke quickly.
"Marcus, don't believe that document. The signature is forged.""
My father looked at me.
"Then why is your name on it?""
James took a breath.
"Because someone is trying to frame me.""
"Who?""
"I don't know yet.""
My father remained silent.
Then James said something that made my blood run cold.
"Marcus, there's one more thing you need to know.""
"What?""
"The person who sent that document to Danielle isn't me.""
I stared at the phone.
James continued.
"Someone has access to my account.""
Then, in the background of his call, I heard an unfamiliar voice.
A woman.
She said:
"Mr. Brooks, your flight has been canceled.""
James went silent.
My father stood.
"James? Who is that?""
There was a brief rustling sound.
Then the call disconnected.
I looked at my father.
He immediately called James back.
No answer.
David began dialing another number.
And across the lobby, Victoria Hale slowly lifted her phone.
She looked directly at me.
Then she smiled.
Not nervously.
Not apologetically.
She smiled as if she had been waiting for this exact moment.
My phone vibrated one final time.
A message appeared from an unknown number.
Tell your father to stop investigating. The next document we release won't just ruin his company. It'll destroy your marriage.
I looked at the message.
Then at my father.
He read it over my shoulder.
His expression became frighteningly calm.
"David," he said.
"Yes?""
"Find Daniel Cross.""
David nodded.
"And Marcus?""
My father looked at me.
"Yes?""
David held up his phone.
"We just received confirmation that Daniel Cross is already in the building.""
My father turned toward the elevators.
The doors opened.
A man in an expensive black suit stepped out.
He looked directly at my father.
Then at me.
And smiled.
"Marcus," he said.
May you like
"We need to talk.""
*End of Chapter 6.*
