Chapter 6: The Man Standing Beside Him
Nobody moved.
Marcus stood near the door.
Denise clutched her envelope.
Naomi held Elijah against her chest.
Robert kept the phone against his ear.
“Thomas, repeat what you just said.””
His assistant sounded as though he were speaking from inside a moving vehicle.
“Mr. Carter, I need you to listen. Marcus isn't telling you everything.””
Robert looked directly at the man standing in front of him.
“What exactly is Marcus hiding?””
“I can't explain over the phone.””
“Then come here.””
“I can't.””
“Why?””
A loud noise interrupted the call.
Thomas gasped.
“Someone followed me from the administrative building.””
Robert stepped toward the window.
“Where are you?””
“Parking garage. Level three.””
“Stay where you are. Security is coming.””
“No, sir. Don't send hospital security.””
Robert froze.
“Why?””
Thomas's voice dropped.
“Because they're involved.””
The call disconnected.
For a moment, Robert simply stared at the phone.
Then he looked at Marcus.
“Explain.””
Marcus raised both hands.
“Sir, I have no idea what Thomas is talking about.””
“Your name just came up in a conversation about a twelve-million-dollar fraud.””
“I understand.””
“Do you?””
Marcus looked toward Naomi.
“Mr. Carter, I have worked for this hospital for fourteen years. I have never stolen a dollar from this institution.””
Robert's expression remained hard.
“Then you'll have no problem answering a few questions.””
He turned toward the nurse.
“Please take Naomi and the baby to the adjoining private room.””
Naomi immediately shook her head.
“Dad, I'm not leaving you.””
“Sweetheart, I need to handle something.””
“Then handle it while I'm here.””
Robert looked at her.
He understood the fear in her eyes.
After what had happened in the lobby, she wasn't going to let another stranger decide where she belonged.
“Fine,” he said.
“But stay with Patricia.””
The nurse nodded.
Robert turned back to Marcus.
“Where is Thomas?””
“I don't know.””
“Find him.””
“Sir, I can contact security.””
“No. You will come with me.””
Marcus hesitated.
Robert noticed.
“Something wrong?””
“No, sir.””
“Then let's go.””
They stepped into the corridor.
Robert stopped beside the security desk.
“Officer, I need two officers to accompany us to the third-level parking garage.””
The guard nodded.
“Yes, Mr. Carter.””
Marcus spoke quickly.
“Sir, perhaps we should wait until the police arrive.””
Robert turned.
“Why?””
“It's possible Thomas is mistaken.””
“Then we'll establish that.””
The elevator doors opened.
Inside, Marcus remained unusually quiet.
Robert watched the floor numbers descend.
Finally, he spoke.
“Marcus, how long have you known Richard Whitmore?””
“About nine years.””
“Did you know he was changing the hospital's financial records?””
“No.””
“Did you know Vanessa was restricting my daughter's access?””
“No.””
“Did you approve any of the transfers?””
Marcus looked offended.
“Absolutely not.””
The elevator reached the parking level.
The doors opened.
A cold draft swept into the elevator.
The garage was almost empty.
Fluorescent lights hummed overhead.
Robert stepped out.
“Thomas?””
No answer.
They walked past a row of parked vehicles.
Then Robert saw something near the concrete pillar marked C-17.
A black briefcase lay on the floor.
Beside it was a phone.
Robert recognized the case.
It belonged to Thomas.
“Thomas!””
A voice came from behind a parked SUV.
“Mr. Carter?””
Thomas stepped into view.
His shirt was untucked, and his tie hung loosely around his neck.
He looked terrified.
Robert approached.
“What happened?””
Thomas glanced at Marcus.
Then he looked at the two security officers.
“Can I speak with you privately?””
Robert nodded toward the officers.
“Stay here.””
Marcus remained beside the elevator.
Thomas waited until Robert was several steps away.
Then he spoke.
“I found the original transfer documents.””
“Where?””
“In Richard's office.””
Robert's expression hardened.
“How did you get them?””
“His assistant left a folder open. I saw your signature on a property transfer. It was forged.””
“I know.””
Thomas looked shocked.
“You know?””
“We found the documents.””
“Then you know about the trust?””
“Yes.””
Thomas rubbed his face.
“Mr. Carter, the trust wasn't the only thing they moved.””
Robert waited.
Thomas opened his briefcase.
Inside were several folders, printed emails, and a small USB drive.
“They transferred ownership interests in three medical properties. They also redirected charitable donations through Whitmore Capital Partners.””
Robert stared at him.
“How much?””
“Approximately thirty-one million dollars.””
Robert slowly exhaled.
“Why didn't you report this?””
“I tried.””
“When?””
“Two weeks ago.””
“To whom?””
Thomas looked down.
“To Marcus.””
Robert turned.
Across the garage, Marcus was speaking with one of the security officers.
Robert looked back at Thomas.
“What happened?””
Thomas swallowed.
“He told me to stop investigating.””
Robert's eyes narrowed.
“Did he threaten you?””
“No. He said it was above my authority.””
“And you believed him?””
Thomas shook his head.
“I was afraid.””
Robert looked at the folders.
“Why bring these to me now?””
Thomas reached into the case and removed a small photograph.
It showed Richard Whitmore standing outside a restaurant with another man.
Robert recognized the second man immediately.
It was a member of the hospital's board of directors.
Thomas pointed to the photograph.
“They've been meeting for months.””
Robert stared at it.
“Who took this?””
“I did.””
“Why?””
“Because I discovered something in Richard's emails.””
Thomas opened another folder.
Inside was a printed conversation between Richard and Vanessa.
The messages were dated five months earlier.
Robert read the first one.
Naomi Carter must not be allowed to access the private family account.
The next message came from Vanessa.
What if she comes in person?
Richard had replied:
Make sure she never reaches Robert without us knowing.
Robert's stomach tightened.
He continued reading.
Then he reached the final message.
It was dated yesterday.
If the chairman discovers the transfers, use the emergency authorization protocol. By the time he understands what happened, the assets will be beyond recovery.
Robert looked up.
“Where is the original email?””
Thomas pointed toward the USB drive.
“Everything is there.””
Robert took it.
Then he asked the question that had been troubling him.
“Why did you tell me not to trust Marcus?””
Thomas glanced over his shoulder.
“Because he was the one who gave Richard access to the emergency authorization system.””
Robert turned slowly.
Marcus was now walking toward them.
“Mr. Carter,” Marcus called.
“We should return upstairs.””
Robert held up the document.
“Marcus, is this your authorization?””
Marcus stopped.
“What?””
Robert showed him the printed access record.
“Your credentials were used to approve Richard's access to the financial system.””
Marcus glanced at the paper.
Then he looked at Thomas.
Something changed in his expression.
“Thomas, you shouldn't have taken those documents.””
Thomas stepped backward.
“I have copies.””
Marcus looked at Robert.
“Sir, this is a misunderstanding.””
“Then explain it.””
Marcus lowered his voice.
“Richard told me the transfers were temporary.””
“Thirty-one million dollars?””
“He said the foundation was restructuring its investments.””
“Did you verify that?””
Marcus said nothing.
Robert stepped closer.
“Did you know the money belonged to my wife's charitable trust?””
Marcus finally looked away.
“I knew some of the funds were being moved.””
Robert stared at him.
“And you helped?””
Marcus's face tightened.
“I didn't think anyone would be hurt.””
Robert's voice became colder.
“You didn't think anyone would be hurt?””
He pointed toward the elevator.
“My daughter was publicly humiliated. My grandson was left crying on a marble floor. My wife's charitable trust was emptied. And you stood beside me pretending you knew nothing.””
Marcus swallowed.
“Sir, I can explain.””
A security officer stepped forward.
“Mr. Carter, should we detain him?””
Before Robert could answer, Marcus suddenly reached into his jacket.
The officer grabbed his wrist.
“Hands where I can see them!””
Marcus froze.
A small phone fell onto the concrete.
Robert looked down.
The screen was still illuminated.
An open message was visible.
*RICHARD: HAS HE SEEN THE ORIGINAL FILE?*
Below it was Marcus's reply.
*NOT YET. I CAN STILL CONTROL THE SITUATION.*
Robert looked at Marcus.
“Who else knows?””
Marcus said nothing.
The security officer placed his hands behind his back.
Then Thomas spoke.
“Mr. Carter, there's something else.””
Robert turned.
“What?””
Thomas pointed toward the black SUV parked beside them.
“I found a recording in Richard's office. It's a conversation between Richard and someone from the board.””
Robert stared at him.
“Who?””
Thomas hesitated.
“Your vice chairman.””
Robert's face went still.
“James?””
Thomas nodded.
Robert looked down at the USB drive.
James Bennett had been his closest ally on the board for nearly twenty years.
He had stood beside Robert when the hospital was built.
He had attended Evelyn's funeral.
He had held Elijah's baby shower invitation in his hands.
And now his name was appearing in the middle of a thirty-one-million-dollar fraud.
Robert's phone rang again.
This time, the caller was the hospital's chief of security.
“Mr. Carter, we have a situation.””
“What?””
“Someone entered your daughter's recovery room while she was away from the bed.””
Robert's heart dropped.
“Where is Naomi?””
“She's safe with Nurse Lewis.””
“What was taken?””
The officer hesitated.
“Nothing, sir.””
“Then what happened?””
“We found a note on the baby's blanket.””
Robert's voice became dangerously quiet.
“What does it say?””
The officer read it aloud.
“Stop investigating, or your grandson will be the next one we move.””
Robert closed his eyes.
For a second, he could hear only the humming lights above him.
Then he opened them.
“Lock down the hospital.””
“Yes, sir.””
“And call the police. Now.””
He turned toward the elevator.
“Thomas, you're coming with me.””
The assistant nodded.
Robert looked at the security officers.
“Take Marcus into custody for questioning. Preserve his phone and every document he has accessed.””
Marcus began protesting.
“Mr. Carter, please! You don't understand. James gave the final instructions!””
Robert stopped.
“James Bennett?””
Marcus nodded desperately.
“He said the chairman would eventually have to choose between protecting his family and protecting the hospital.””
Robert stared at him.
“What does that mean?””
Marcus looked terrified.
Then he whispered:
“Because James already knows the truth about your wife's death.””
Robert felt the floor shift beneath him.
His wife had died three years earlier.
The official cause had been a sudden medical complication.
Robert had never questioned it.
Now, standing in the hospital garage, he looked at the man who had just admitted to helping steal thirty-one million dollars.
“What did you just say?””
Marcus swallowed.
“Richard wasn't the one who started all of this, sir.””
He glanced toward the elevator.
“Your wife discovered the first transfer before she died.””
Robert's breathing stopped.
May you like
Marcus continued.
“And James Bennett made sure she never got the chance to tell you.””