Chapter 12 - Account 417
Daniel began the search before sunrise.
By nine that morning, he had discovered that Account 417 belonged to Vale Heritage Services, a company created during the hotel group’s earliest expansion.
It had no employees, physical office, or active business license.
According to company records, it had been dissolved after Martin Vale’s death.
According to the bank, it had never closed.
Adrian joined Daniel in a private conference room at Vale Hospitality’s headquarters. The blinds were lowered, and every document had been printed rather than emailed.
“Who had signing authority?” Adrian asked.
Daniel turned the registration page toward him.
Two names appeared at the bottom.
Martin Vale.
Graham Vale.
Adrian stared at the second name.
Graham was Martin’s younger brother and Adrian’s uncle. He had served as vice chairman of Vale Hospitality for nearly five years. After Martin’s death, Graham had guided Adrian through board meetings, negotiations, and the company’s most difficult financial decisions.
“He helped me keep the company together,” Adrian said.
“He also helped create this account,” Daniel replied.
“That does not prove he used it.”
“No. But someone reactivated it eleven months before your engagement to Vanessa.”
Daniel placed another sheet on the table.
The account had received small transfers from several companies connected to Vale vendors. It then sent money to Raymond Laurent’s consulting company weeks before the wedding.
Adrian’s expression changed.
“You think Graham knew the Laurents?”
“I think we should determine what he knew before we accuse him.”
The internal access records created another problem.
Someone had entered the account’s archived file from a computer on the executive floor three nights before the fund’s anniversary.
Only four people had unrestricted access to that floor: Adrian, Graham, Chief Financial Officer Lydia Chen, and the company’s general counsel, Marianne Cole.
Adrian immediately ruled out Lydia. She had been attending a conference overseas.
That left Graham and Marianne.
Daniel recommended a discreet audit.
Adrian agreed, but before they could leave the room, his phone rang.
The call came from the security desk downstairs.
A woman was demanding to see him.
She had refused to give her full name.
When security asked why Adrian would speak to her, she had placed an old wedding invitation on the desk.
May you like
Vanessa Laurent was waiting in the lobby.
And she claimed she had sent the envelope.
