Chapter 5: The Video They Tried to Destroy
At 9:17 p.m., Richard Carter returned to the executive conference room.
The room was filled with people.
Patricia Lewis sat at the head of the table with the hotel's compliance officer, legal counsel, and security director.
Daniel Whitmore sat opposite them.
Vanessa sat beside him, repeatedly checking her phone.
Marcus Reed was nowhere to be seen.
Richard placed the folder on the table.
"Let's begin.""
Patricia opened her laptop.
"Mr. Carter, our security team discovered an attempted deletion of the original lobby recording.""
Daniel shifted in his chair.
"That's a serious allegation.""
Richard looked at him.
"It's a technical finding. Not an allegation.""
The security director, James Miller, connected his laptop to the conference room display.
"At 8:42 p.m., an authorized employee account accessed the camera archive.""
He displayed a list of activity records.
"At 8:47 p.m., someone attempted to remove the recording covering the main lobby.""
Richard folded his hands.
"Was the deletion successful?""
"No, sir. Our system automatically created a backup because the footage was flagged for review.""
"Who accessed the account?""
James zoomed in.
The name appeared on the screen.
MARCUS REED.
Patricia looked stunned.
Daniel immediately leaned forward.
"Could somebody else have used his credentials?""
James nodded.
"It's possible. That's why we're examining the access logs and device information.""
Vanessa looked at Richard.
"Are you seriously suggesting the manager tried to destroy evidence for me?""
Richard didn't respond.
She continued.
"This is becoming absurd. I barely know Marcus outside this hotel.""
Patricia glanced at her.
"Mrs. Whitmore, we haven't made that conclusion.""
Vanessa crossed her arms.
"Then perhaps everyone should stop treating me like a criminal.""
Richard looked toward James.
"Continue.""
The security director opened another file.
"We also recovered a message sent from Marcus's company account shortly after the incident.""
He displayed the message.
*Delete the lobby footage before the chairman arrives. We cannot have this becoming a corporate issue.*
There was no signature.
But the recipient's account belonged to Marcus.
Richard read the message silently.
Then he looked at Patricia.
"Was this sent by him?""
"Our IT department is verifying the device used to send it.""
Daniel leaned back.
"Even if Marcus sent that message, it doesn't prove my wife instructed him to do anything.""
Richard nodded.
"Correct.""
Vanessa exhaled.
But Richard continued.
"And that's why we're going to examine every communication connected to this incident.""
He turned toward the legal counsel.
"Has the original footage been secured?""
"Yes. Multiple copies have been preserved.""
"Good.""
At that moment, Patricia's assistant entered.
"Excuse me. There's someone downstairs asking to speak with Mr. Carter.""
Richard looked up.
"Who?""
"A hotel employee named Tasha Brooks.""
Patricia frowned.
"She already gave us her statement.""
The assistant hesitated.
"She says she found something else.""
Richard gestured toward the door.
"Bring her in.""
A minute later, Tasha entered the conference room.
She looked uncomfortable surrounded by executives.
"Good evening, sir.""
Richard offered her a chair.
"Please sit down.""
Tasha placed her phone on the table.
"I wanted to show you something I received last month.""
Patricia frowned.
"What does it have to do with tonight?""
Tasha looked toward Vanessa.
"Mrs. Whitmore complained about me after I refused to let her enter a restricted service corridor.""
Vanessa rolled her eyes.
"That was a completely different situation.""
Tasha nodded.
"Yes, ma'am. But after that, my supervisor told me I might lose my job unless I apologized.""
Richard leaned forward.
"Did you?""
"No, sir. Because I hadn't done anything wrong.""
She opened an email.
The subject line read:
*WHITMORE VIP SERVICE COMPLAINT — EMPLOYEE ACTION REQUIRED*
Tasha turned the phone toward Richard.
"I saved it because I didn't think the original complaint was fair.""
Patricia read the email.
Her eyebrows rose.
"Marcus approved this?""
Tasha nodded.
"Yes.""
Richard scanned the message.
It contained instructions to reduce Tasha's working hours and move her to a less favorable shift.
The reason given was a supposed failure to accommodate a VIP guest.
Richard looked at Tasha.
"Did anyone investigate your side of the story?""
"No, sir.""
"Did anyone interview witnesses?""
"No.""
He looked toward Patricia.
"How many similar complaints have been processed this way?""
Patricia slowly closed her laptop.
"I'll need to review the records.""
"Then do it.""
Vanessa stood abruptly.
"This is ridiculous! You're turning an ordinary guest complaint into some kind of conspiracy.""
Tasha looked down.
Richard turned toward Vanessa.
"Please sit down.""
"I will not be interrogated like this!""
"Nobody is interrogating you. We're reviewing hotel records.""
Daniel grabbed his wife's wrist.
"Vanessa, sit.""
She pulled away.
"Don't tell me what to do!""
The room went silent.
Daniel looked embarrassed.
Richard waited until Vanessa sat again.
Then he turned to Tasha.
"Thank you for bringing this forward. You will not be penalized for cooperating with an investigation.""
Tasha nodded.
"Thank you, sir.""
She stood and left.
When the door closed, Richard looked at Patricia.
"I want every complaint involving Marcus and every VIP guest reviewed.""
Patricia nodded.
"Understood.""
Daniel leaned forward.
"Mr. Carter, I think you're losing sight of the original issue. My company is preparing to invest a substantial amount in your next development.""
Richard looked at him.
"And?""
"And we have a reputation to protect.""
Richard's voice remained calm.
"So do we.""
Daniel opened his briefcase.
"I brought the final partnership documents tonight. We were supposed to sign before the charity reception.""
He placed a thick folder on the table.
Richard didn't touch it.
"Why are you so eager to sign tonight?""
Daniel gave a strained smile.
"Because the project is ready.""
Richard glanced toward the legal counsel.
"Have you reviewed the final version?""
"Not completely.""
"Then nobody is signing anything.""
Daniel's smile disappeared.
"Mr. Carter, we have already invested millions in preparation.""
"That is your company's decision.""
"You're putting everything at risk over an incident involving your daughter.""
Richard leaned forward.
"No. Your company put everything at risk when it submitted financial documents that may contain false information.""
Daniel's eyes narrowed.
"Those allegations are unfounded.""
"Then prove it.""
Daniel looked toward Vanessa.
She was staring at her phone.
Suddenly, she stood.
"I need to make a call.""
Richard gestured toward the door.
"Of course.""
She walked outside.
But her phone remained connected to the room's conference audio system through a wireless device she had placed on the table earlier.
Nobody noticed.
A few seconds later, her voice came through the speakers.
"Listen, I need you to move the money tonight.""
There was a pause.
Then another voice replied.
"Which account?""
Vanessa lowered her voice.
"The one Daniel told you about. Before Richard's people freeze everything.""
Patricia looked up.
James stopped typing.
Daniel went completely still.
Vanessa continued.
"And make sure the original transfer records are gone. I don't care how you do it.""
The room fell silent.
Then the connection abruptly disconnected.
Richard slowly turned toward Daniel.
"What money?""
Daniel's face had gone gray.
"Vanessa!""
The door opened.
She returned, holding her phone.
"Why is everyone staring at me?""
Richard pointed toward the conference speaker.
"Perhaps you'd like to repeat what you just said.""
Vanessa froze.
Daniel stood.
"Richard, I can explain.""
Richard raised one hand.
"No. I want to hear from your wife.""
Vanessa looked at the speaker.
Then at her husband.
Then at the executives.
Her lips parted.
"I was talking about a personal matter.""
Richard nodded.
"Then you shouldn't mind explaining why you mentioned moving money before our company could freeze anything.""
Daniel grabbed his briefcase.
"We're leaving.""
Richard didn't stop him.
But the legal counsel spoke before he could reach the door.
"Mr. Whitmore, please don't remove any documents from this room. We have not completed our review.""
Daniel turned sharply.
"You cannot hold my property.""
"Nobody is holding you. We're asking that the materials submitted for this transaction remain available for verification.""
Daniel looked furious.
Vanessa's hands were trembling.
Then Patricia's assistant rushed back into the room.
"Mr. Carter, I'm sorry. There's another development.""
Richard looked at her.
"What now?""
"The original complaint filed against Miss Carter wasn't submitted by Marcus Reed.""
Richard frowned.
"Who submitted it?""
The assistant glanced at the screen.
"An account belonging to the chairman's office.""
Everyone turned toward Richard.
He stared at the displayed record.
His own administrative credentials had been used to file the complaint.
But Richard hadn't been in the building when it was submitted.
Someone had accessed his account.
Someone had deliberately made it appear that he had approved the removal of his own daughter.
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And when James examined the access history, he discovered something even more disturbing.
The login had come from a device registered to Daniel Whitmore's company.
