My phone vibrated.
A message from Courtney appeared.
You have no idea what you’ve started. Charles is furious. Fix this before somebody gets hurt.
I handed the phone to Samantha.
She read it once.
Then took a screenshot with my permission.
“Do not respond.”
Another message arrived.
The company belongs to your father. You know that.
Then another.
Lucas was going to ruin everything anyway.
I looked at Samantha.
“What does she mean?”
Samantha said nothing for several seconds.
Finally, she opened another folder.
“Lucas had commissioned an independent audit. It uncovered payments to several companies that appear to have no legitimate business relationship with Baldwin-Gallagher.”
“How much?”
“Nearly four million dollars over eighteen months.”
My mouth went dry.
“And where did the money go?”
“One recipient was a newly formed consulting company.”
She paused.
“Courtney Baldwin is its sole listed owner.”
I stared at the ceiling.
The machines beside my bed continued their steady beeping.
