Chapter 5 - THE ACCOUNT NOBODY WAS SUPPOSED TO FIND|
Daniel asked me to come to the company's headquarters the following morning.
I didn't want to leave Eli, but his doctor assured me he was stable and would remain under observation. Holly arranged for a private nurse to stay with him while we attended the meeting.
The Whitmore Medical building stood beside the harbor, its glass exterior reflecting the gray November sky. I had not walked through those doors in almost six years.
The receptionist looked startled when she saw me.
“Mrs. Whitmore.”
“Good morning, Claire.”
She glanced toward the elevators.
“Mr. Whitmore isn't expecting you.”
“That's fine. I'm not here to see him.”
Daniel was waiting in the conference room with two outside directors and the company's compliance officer.
A large screen displayed a financial chart.
“What am I looking at?” I asked.
Daniel pointed to a series of transfers.
“The original emergency foundation account.”
I studied the numbers.
The foundation had received donations from hospitals, private donors, and Whitmore Medical Holdings. It was supposed to maintain a protected reserve for children requiring urgent treatment.
But the money had been moved into several private accounts.
“Where did it go?”
The compliance officer answered.
“Some payments went to legitimate medical providers. Others went to consulting companies with no employees or physical offices.”
“Who owns them?”
“Two are connected to Rachel Palmer. One is connected to a company registered by Grant's former college roommate.”
I sat down.
“How much?”
“Approximately eleven million dollars over four years.”
The room became very quiet.
I looked at Daniel.
“Eleven million?”
“Yes.”
“Was that all supposed to help children?”
“According to the original charter, yes.”
The compliance officer changed the screen.
A list of beneficiaries appeared.
Some children had received treatment. Others had been denied assistance despite meeting the eligibility requirements.
One name caught my attention.
A little boy named Mason Cole.
His emergency request had been rejected three years earlier.
The reason was listed as insufficient reserve availability.
I looked at the date.
That was the same week Grant had approved a large payment to Rachel's private account.
“Did Mason receive treatment?”
The compliance officer lowered his eyes.
“He eventually did. His family raised money privately. But the delay resulted in additional complications.”
I pressed my fingers against the table.
“Who made the decision?”
“Grant.”
I stood.
“Then every family affected by this needs to know.”
Daniel nodded.
“We will contact the hospitals and their legal representatives.”
The chairman cleared his throat.
“Mrs. Whitmore, the board also needs to discuss leadership.”
I looked at him.
“Go ahead.”
“Given the evidence, we recommend that Grant be removed as chief executive pending the investigation.”
I didn't celebrate.
I didn't smile.
I simply nodded.
“Do it.”
The vote was unanimous.
Grant's authority was terminated immediately.
His access cards were deactivated, his company email suspended, and his signature removed from the emergency allocation system.
As we left the conference room, my phone rang.
Grant.
I answered.
“What did you do?” he demanded.
“The board reviewed the records.”
“You had no right to get involved.”
“I am a founding owner.”
“You haven't worked here in years.”
“I never surrendered my ownership.”
“You were my wife. You were supposed to trust me.”
I looked through the glass wall at the harbor.
“I did trust you. That's why you were able to do all of this.”
His voice dropped.
“Listen carefully, Mara. You have no idea what you're about to uncover.”
“Then explain it.”
He paused.
Then he said, “The foundation money wasn't mine to move.”
I frowned.
“Whose was it?”
May you like
His answer chilled me.
“Your father's.”
