Chapter 7 - Blood Behind the Counter
The revelation changed Serena's interrogation.
When Julian placed a photograph of Victor Vale beside Marcus Hale on the conference table, Serena stopped denying everything.
She stared at the images.
Then covered her face.
"I didn't know they were family."
"You're lying," Helen said.
Serena shook her head.
"I knew Marcus had connections. I didn't know Victor was his grandfather."
Julian sat opposite her.
"How did Marcus recruit you?"
Serena remained silent.
Arthur spoke.
"This is no longer an internal employment investigation. Federal authorities are involved. Your next decision matters."
Serena looked exhausted.
"When I joined the bank, I had debt."
"What kind?" Julian asked.
"Medical."
"For you?"
"My father."
Her voice softened.
"He needed treatment. Insurance wouldn't cover everything. I was twenty-three."
Marcus approached her with a solution.
Not directly.
At first he introduced clients.
Those clients brought deposits.
Serena earned promotions.
Then favors became requests.
Backdate a form.
Override a fee.
Ignore an unusual transfer.
By the time she understood that accounts were being used illegally, she was already involved.
"Why stay for eleven years?"
Serena looked at Julian.
"Because after the first crime, the second one becomes easier."
"And eventually profitable."
She looked away.
"Yes."
Marcus had paid her through consulting companies.
More than six hundred thousand dollars over a decade.
Serena's arrogance had not come only from personality.
It came from believing she was protected.
"Who protected you?" Julian asked.
"Victor."
"Did you meet him?"
"Twice."
"When?"
"The first time eight years ago."
"And the second?"
Serena swallowed.
"Last night."
Arthur stepped forward.
"Where?"
"Hotel Calder."
"What did he want?"
"He knew about the acquisition."
Julian leaned closer.
"How?"
"I don't know."
"What did he tell you?"
"That someone from Northbridge would visit the branch."
Julian felt the pieces align.
"Did he give you my name?"
"No."
"Then why did you recognize it?"
Serena looked toward the door.
"Marcus told me."
"When?"
"The moment you gave us your identification."
That explained the whisper.
Marcus knew Julian personally enough to recognize his name immediately.
But how?
Julian had never met him.
Serena continued.
"Marcus told me to make sure you left before anyone verified the cheque."
"So you destroyed it."
"I panicked."
"What was supposed to happen if I refused to leave?"
Serena's silence answered.
The security guards.
Police.
A public accusation of attempted fraud.
Victor wanted Julian discredited before the acquisition closed.
Arthur asked, "Why?"
Serena whispered, "Because the board votes Monday."
Julian frowned.
"What vote?"
Arthur looked equally confused.
Serena stared at him.
"You really don't know?"
"Know what?"
"The emergency succession vote."
Arthur went still.
Serena explained.
Five board members had been privately approached with evidence allegedly proving Arthur had authorized fraudulent loans.
A special meeting had been scheduled.
If the evidence held, Arthur could be suspended immediately.
The temporary replacement candidate had already been selected.
"Who?" Julian asked.
Serena looked at him.
"David Lang."
Arthur cursed under his breath.
David Lang was Metropolitan Crown's chief operating officer.
Arthur's closest professional ally for seventeen years.
Julian had known him since childhood.
If Serena was telling the truth, Victor had moved much closer to the center than any of them realized.
Arthur immediately called David.
No answer.
Called again.
Nothing.
Helen checked internal access records.
David had entered the executive building that morning.
He had not left.
Security searched his office.
Empty.
Then a maintenance employee reported hearing water running inside a locked restroom on the twenty-second floor.
They forced the door open.
David Lang lay unconscious beside the sink.
A syringe rested near his hand.
A typed confession sat on the floor.
It admitted responsibility for the fraudulent accounts.
Julian read the first paragraph and knew instantly it was fake.
David always called Arthur "Art."
The confession called him "Mr. Vance."
David was alive.
May you like
Barely.
And someone had tried to make him the next disposable piece.
