Chapter 9: The Last Person They Expected to Betray Them
Vanessa stood frozen.
For several seconds, she seemed unable to understand what Olivia had just said.
Then she shook her head.
"No.""
Olivia turned the tablet toward her.
"That's the beneficiary account.""
"No. That's impossible.""
Richard looked at her.
"Is that your business account?""
Vanessa stepped backward.
"Yes, but I didn't authorize that transfer.""
Olivia checked the digital request.
"The transfer was submitted using David Mercer's executive credentials.""
Vanessa shook her head repeatedly.
"I didn't ask him to send me a million dollars.""
Richard's voice was cold.
"Why would he send you a million dollars?""
"I don't know!""
Nia stared at her.
"You're telling us someone is sending you a million dollars and you have no idea why?""
Vanessa began crying.
"David said he would compensate me for helping with the supplier arrangements. He never mentioned anything like this.""
Olivia examined the transaction.
"There's a note attached.""
Richard leaned closer.
"Read it.""
Olivia hesitated.
Then she read the message.
Final settlement. Once received, destroy all remaining records and confirm completion.
Vanessa covered her mouth.
Richard stared at her.
"Destroy what records?""
Vanessa looked toward the black folder.
"I don't know.""
"Stop saying that.""
"I swear!""
Richard stepped closer.
"Your company received payments. You created false invoices. You accepted money from David.
You helped him interfere with my daughter's reservation. And now another million dollars is being transferred into your account.""
Vanessa's shoulders shook.
"What do you want me to say?""
"The truth.""
She looked at Nia.
Then at Richard.
Finally, she lowered her voice.
"David told me there was a backup plan.""
Richard's eyes narrowed.
"What backup plan?""
"He said if the financial investigation began, the money would be moved into my account. He said I would have enough time to transfer it somewhere else.""
Nia stared at her.
"Somewhere else?""
Vanessa nodded.
"He gave me instructions.""
"To send it where?""
Vanessa swallowed.
"To an account in another country.""
Richard looked at Olivia.
"Can the bank stop it?""
Olivia nodded.
"The transfer is still pending. The security hold is active.""
Richard exhaled.
"Keep it there.""
Olivia immediately called the bank.
Vanessa began pacing.
"I never wanted any of this.""
Nia looked at her.
"Then why did you participate?""
Vanessa stopped.
"Because I was desperate.""
"Desperate for what?""
"My company was failing.""
Her voice broke.
"I had employees depending on me. I had debts. I had suppliers threatening legal action. David told me he could help.""
Richard stared at her.
"By stealing from my company?""
"He said it was temporary.""
"And you believed him?""
Vanessa looked down.
"I wanted to.""
Nia adjusted Amara's blanket.
"Do you know what I wanted tonight?""
Vanessa didn't answer.
"I wanted to eat dinner with my daughter. I wanted to celebrate three weeks of being her mother. I wanted to sit at a table and enjoy one peaceful evening.""
Nia's eyes filled.
"Instead, you decided I was an easy person to hurt.""
Vanessa began sobbing.
"I am sorry.""
Nia looked at her.
"You keep saying that.""
"I mean it.""
"Then tell the truth.""
Vanessa nodded.
"I will.""
Richard turned toward Olivia.
"Have the legal team prepare a formal statement. Everything needs to be documented.""
Olivia nodded.
But before she could move, the restaurant's security supervisor approached.
"Mr. Carter?""
Richard turned.
"What?""
"The police are here.""
Two officers entered through the glass doors.
One was a middle-aged detective carrying a notebook. The other wore a uniform and carried a small evidence case.
The detective introduced himself.
"Detective Samuel Hayes. We received a report involving suspected financial fraud, identity theft, and an assault.""
Richard shook his hand.
"Richard Carter. Thank you for coming.""
The detective looked toward Nia.
"Are you the person who was assaulted?""
Nia nodded.
"Yes.""
"Can you tell me what happened?""
Nia glanced at Amara.
"Can someone hold my daughter while I give my statement?""
Richard immediately reached out.
"I've got her.""
Nia handed him the baby.
Then she explained everything.
The entrance.
The slap.
The insults.
The reservation.
The manager's refusal to help.
The phone call.
The recordings.
The documents.
The detective listened carefully, occasionally writing something in his notebook.
When she finished, he looked at the swelling on her cheek.
"Have you received medical attention?""
"Not yet.""
"We'll arrange for a medical assessment. We also need a copy of the security footage.""
Olivia stepped forward.
"We have preserved the original recordings and can provide verified copies.""
"Good.""
The detective turned toward Vanessa.
"Ma'am, I'd like to speak with you separately.""
Vanessa looked frightened.
"Am I being arrested?""
"At this moment, I'm asking you to cooperate with an investigation.""
She nodded slowly.
Then the detective looked toward Richard.
"Mr. Carter, we also need to speak with your financial team regarding the disputed transfers.""
Richard gestured toward Olivia.
"She's our compliance director.""
The detective nodded.
"Excellent.""
He then looked toward Marcus.
"And you?""
Marcus straightened.
"Marcus Reed. Restaurant manager.""
"Did you witness the assault?""
Marcus swallowed.
"Yes.""
"Did you intervene?""
Marcus looked down.
"No.""
"Why not?""
Marcus glanced toward Richard.
Then he answered.
"I was afraid of losing my position.""
The detective wrote something down.
"Did you order the victim to leave?""
"Yes.""
"Did you know she had a confirmed reservation?""
Marcus hesitated.
"Yes.""
The detective looked up.
"Then we'll need a full statement from you as well.""
Marcus nodded.
Vanessa was escorted toward a private meeting room with the detective.
Before she disappeared into the corridor, she turned toward Nia.
"Nia.""
Nia looked up.
"Please.""
Vanessa's voice cracked.
"I know you hate me.""
Nia said nothing.
"I was wrong. I know I was wrong.""
Nia looked down at her cheek.
Then at Amara.
"I don't hate you.""
Vanessa looked hopeful.
Nia continued.
"But I won't lie about what happened to make you feel better.""
Vanessa lowered her head.
The detective guided her away.
Richard watched them disappear.
Then he turned toward Olivia.
"How much money is still missing?""
Olivia checked her tablet.
"Approximately one million, two hundred and forty thousand dollars, including the disputed payments.""
"And the pending million?""
"Frozen.""
Richard nodded.
"Find every account connected to David.""
"Yes, sir.""
Nia sat down.
The evening had drained her.
Her back hurt.
Her eyes burned.
And Amara was beginning to fuss.
Richard noticed.
"Let's get you somewhere comfortable.""
Nia shook her head.
"I don't want to leave until we know what's happening.""
"Sweetheart, you've done enough.""
"But Dad—"
Richard gently interrupted.
"You're a mother. You need rest. You need to take care of yourself and your daughter.""
Nia looked toward the entrance.
"Is David going to get away?""
Richard followed her gaze.
"No.""
He said it with absolute certainty.
But just then, Olivia's phone rang.
She answered.
"Olivia Grant.""
A voice spoke quickly.
Olivia's expression changed.
"Wait. What do you mean?""
She listened.
Then she looked toward Richard.
"Mr. Carter, the airport police have located David.""
Richard nodded.
"Good.""
Olivia swallowed.
"But he isn't alone.""
Richard frowned.
"Who is with him?""
Olivia listened again.
Then she lowered the phone.
"Your son.""
The words seemed to strike Richard harder than the slap had struck Nia.
He stared at Olivia.
"My son?""
Nia slowly raised her head.
She had one brother.
Ethan Carter.
Richard's thirty-year-old son.
Ethan had been living in another state, managing a small division of the family business. He had always been charming, ambitious, and eager to prove himself.
But he and Richard had argued several times over the company's future.
Ethan believed the business needed aggressive expansion.
Richard believed it needed stability.
Their disagreements had become increasingly bitter.
Nia looked at her father.
"Dad, why would Ethan be with David?""
Richard didn't answer.
Olivia checked her phone again.
"The airport police say they were traveling together.""
Richard took a slow breath.
"Did they board?""
"No.""
"Where are they now?""
"Being questioned.""
Richard looked toward the glass doors.
His face had become unreadable.
Then his phone rang.
The screen displayed one name.
ETHAN.
Richard answered.
"Ethan.""
His son's voice came through immediately.
"Dad, whatever you've heard, it's not what you think.""
Richard closed his eyes.
"Then explain why you're at the airport with David Mercer.""
A pause.
Then Ethan spoke.
"Because he was helping me.""
Richard's jaw tightened.
"Helping you do what?""
Silence.
"Ethan?""
His son finally answered.
"I was trying to save the company.""
Richard stared at the floor.
"By stealing from it?""
"That's not what happened.""
"By using your sister's identity?""
Ethan's breathing changed.
Nia stood slowly.
She had heard enough to understand.
Her brother knew.
He had known everything.
Richard's voice became dangerously quiet.
"Tell me you didn't know what David was doing.""
Ethan didn't answer.
Richard repeated the question.
"Tell me.""
Finally, Ethan said:
"I knew about the money.""
Nia covered her mouth.
Richard's eyes closed.
"And the account under your sister's name?""
A long silence.
Then Ethan whispered:
"She wasn't supposed to find out.""
Nia felt the room spin.
Richard looked toward his daughter.
His expression was full of pain.
"Ethan, you used your sister?""
His son tried to speak.
"Dad, I can explain—"
Richard interrupted.
"No. You can tell the police.""
He ended the call.
For several seconds, he simply stood there.
Then Nia approached him.
"Dad?""
Richard looked at her.
"I'm sorry.""
Nia shook her head.
"Why?""
"Because I trusted him too.""
Nia looked toward the phone in his hand.
She had spent the evening believing Vanessa and David were the people responsible.
Now she understood that the betrayal had reached much closer to home.
Her own brother had allowed her identity to be used.
He had allowed her to become the face of a financial crime.
And the man who had helped raise them both had apparently been part of it.
Richard's phone rang again.
This time, it was the detective.
Richard answered.
"Yes?""
The detective's voice was serious.
"Mr. Carter, we need you to come to the airport.""
Richard frowned.
"Why?""
"Your son has made a statement.""
Richard looked toward Nia.
"What kind of statement?""
The detective paused.
"He's claiming that the entire scheme was your idea.""
Richard went completely still.
Then the detective added:
"And he says he has documents to prove it.""
Nia looked at her father.
The restaurant had gone silent again.
The investigation had started with a slap.
It had uncovered a million-dollar fraud.
And now the person accusing Richard Carter of organizing the entire scheme was his own son.
Richard gently placed Amara back in Nia's arms.
Then he picked up his coat.
"Let's go," he said.
Because whatever Ethan had prepared for the police, Richard knew one thing.
May you like
If his son was willing to destroy his sister to protect himself, he was capable of anything.
And the truth waiting at the airport might be even worse than the betrayal they had already uncovered.
