Chapter 22 - Daniel’s Offer
Daniel Mercer arrived at the foundation the next morning with an attorney and a thin leather portfolio.
He was in his early forties, with a neat haircut and an expression that looked practiced in a mirror. I remembered his face from Prescott Global’s security footage. He had been Aaron’s chief of staff, always three steps behind him at public events.
The investigator sat in on the meeting.
Daniel said he had no connection to the attempted withdrawal. He admitted visiting Prescott Global’s archive after his badge had been deactivated, but claimed he was retrieving personal files.
“What personal files were in a secured project archive?” Sarah asked.
“Old correspondence.”
“Did you remove anything?”
“No.”
“Why did you use a badge that wasn’t active?”
“I didn’t know it had been deactivated.”
“That seems unlikely.”
Daniel looked at me. “I’m here because I can prove Victor used my sister’s company to move the money.”
“Your sister owns one of the consulting firms,” I said.
“She was a bookkeeper. She didn’t know what Victor was doing.”
“Did you?”
“I found out after the company closed.”
“Why didn’t you report it?”
“I was worried about my sister. Victor had threatened to accuse her of fraud.”
The investigator asked for the documents. Daniel said he would provide them if the foundation agreed not to pursue his sister for restitution.
“We don’t control criminal investigations,” Sarah said. “You can give the evidence to the prosecutor.”
“I want assurance that Olivia won’t be charged.”
“No one here can offer that.”
Daniel closed his portfolio. “Then I have nothing to say.”
I watched him carefully. “You came here expecting us to make a deal?”
“I came here because I thought you wanted the truth.”
“I do. I don’t trade promises for evidence.”
His jaw tightened.
As he stood, the investigator asked him to remain while she confirmed whether he was subject to any subpoena. Daniel’s attorney objected, but they stayed.
Sarah examined the documents Daniel had brought. They were not originals. Most were copies of invoices and internal emails. One email showed Victor asking Daniel to arrange a “clean channel” for the transfers.
Another showed Daniel replying: I can make the company available, but the accounting has to stay with Olivia.
The email was dated after the first suspicious payment.
“Did you know what ‘clean channel’ meant?” I asked.
Daniel said nothing.
The investigator asked him again.
“I thought it meant moving expenses to a separate subsidiary.”
“Why would you need a separate subsidiary?”
“Victor said the board didn’t want to see every project expense.”
Sarah leaned forward. “You were the chief of staff. You knew the board was entitled to those records.”
Daniel looked down. “I didn’t ask enough questions.”
“Did you submit the withdrawal request?” the investigator asked.
“No.”
“Do you know who did?”
“I think Victor used my old office computer.”
“Why?”
“To make it look like I was involved.”
“Why would he frame you?”
Daniel’s face tightened. “Because I stopped helping him.”
It was the first answer that sounded like fear rather than strategy.
“Why did you stop?” I asked.
“Because he told me to destroy the old files. I made copies.”
“Where are they?”
“I’ll give them to the investigator.”
“Now?”
He glanced at his attorney. “After I have immunity.”
The investigator stood. “Then the meeting is over.”
As Daniel left, he turned toward me.
“You think you’re safe because the money is frozen. You’re not. Victor has one more person inside your foundation.”
Sarah’s expression hardened. “Who?”
May you like
Daniel looked at the investigator.
“Ask Elena what she did with the key.”
