Chapter 9 - The Footage on the Screen
The first frame on the restaurant monitor did not show Connor transferring money.
It did not show Brenda creating false authorizations.
It showed Olivia entering the private dining room forty-three minutes earlier.
Connor frowned.
“What is this?”
Naomi stood beside the monitor.
“Restaurant security footage.”
“You have no right to display private recordings.”
“We have a warrant.”
Brenda’s attorney-like calm returned.
“For what suspected offense?”
“Financial fraud, conspiracy, evidence tampering, witness intimidation, and obstruction.”
The investors began speaking at once.
Naomi raised her hand.
“Remain seated.”
The footage advanced.
It showed Connor meeting the restaurant manager two hours before the dinner. There was no audio, but the image clearly captured Connor handing him a small envelope.
The manager stood near the screen.
Naomi looked at him.
“Mr. Patel, what was in the envelope?”
“Ten thousand dollars.”
Connor’s face reddened.
“A gratuity.”
“For what?” Naomi asked.
The manager swallowed.
“To disable the cameras and allow Mr. Ward’s private security team access to the control room.”
Connor pointed at him.
“He’s lying.”
Naomi displayed a second angle.
It showed Brenda’s assistant entering the security room with a laptop and connecting it to the restaurant network.
Brenda’s expression did not change.
“My assistant manages event security.”
The footage continued.
The assistant opened a folder.
Naomi zoomed in on the laptop screen.
A document titled BENNETT ADMISSION STATEMENT appeared.
The text was too small to read, but Olivia recognized the formatting of the agreement Connor had placed beside her.
Naomi turned toward the investors.
“The document was created before Ms. Bennett arrived. Its metadata describes tonight’s gathering as a ‘controlled investor disclosure event.’”
Connor folded his arms.
“That is not illegal.”
“No,” Naomi said. “But the next recording presents a problem.”
The image changed.
This time, it came from a camera inside Ward Meridian’s executive conference room.
The date was six weeks earlier.
Connor and Brenda sat at the table.
The video contained audio.
Connor’s recorded voice filled the restaurant.
“If she refuses the settlement, we release the access logs.”
Brenda answered, “Not until the investors hear her admit the credentials were hers.”
“She won’t admit it.”
“Then pressure her.”
“How?”
“Humiliation works faster than negotiation with people who still believe they possess dignity.”
The investors stared at Brenda.
On the screen, Connor smiled.
“You’ve thought about this.”
“I know Olivia.”
“No,” Connor said. “You hate Olivia.”
Brenda replied, “There is no meaningful difference when the outcome is the same.”
The recording ended.
The dining room remained silent.
Brenda looked at Naomi.
“That footage was illegally obtained.”
“Was the conversation fabricated?”
“I will not answer without counsel.”
Connor stared at the monitor.
“Where did you get that?”
Naomi did not reply.
Olivia knew the significance of his question.
He did not deny the conversation.
He wanted to know who had betrayed him.
Naomi opened the leather folder and removed several documents.
“These are temporary asset-freeze orders covering accounts associated with Ward Meridian Capital, Northstar Civic Holdings, Castle March Development, and Holloway Strategic Counsel.”
Brenda’s composure cracked.
“You cannot freeze Holloway accounts.”
“We already did.”
Connor looked around the room as if searching for an exit that had disappeared.
Harold stood.
“How much did they take?”
Naomi’s eyes moved to him.
“The investigation is ongoing.”
“How much?”
“Current evidence indicates at least forty-seven million dollars was moved without proper investor authorization.”
Vanessa covered her mouth.
Another investor cursed beneath his breath.
Connor raised both hands.
“This is a misunderstanding involving internal liquidity management.”
Naomi looked at him.
“Then explain the abandoned Bellweather facility.”
Connor stopped.
Brenda turned toward him sharply.
The reaction was unmistakable.
Naomi noticed.
Olivia noticed.
Every investor noticed.
“What facility?” Connor asked.
“The property purchased by Northstar using money transferred through Ms. Bennett’s credentials.”
“I have never visited it.”
The monitor changed again.
A nighttime image appeared.
Connor’s black car entered the Bellweather property through a chained gate.
The timestamp was two days after Daniel Bennett’s death.
Connor’s face went gray.
May you like
Naomi stepped closer.
“Would you like to revise that answer?”
