Then her own recorded voice followed.
“Three more hours, and she can’t back out.”
Daniel’s expression changed completely.
I stopped the recording.
He leaned toward me.
“Claire, listen to me. I was under pressure. My mother exaggerates everything.”
“Really?”
I slid the property authorization documents across the table.
“Did she prepare these too?”
His eyes moved toward Martin.
Then I placed the audit findings beside them.
“And did she create these questionable vendor records?”
Patricia looked at her son.
“Daniel…”
He turned sharply toward her.
“Stop.”
And in that instant, I think Patricia understood something too.
Daniel had not told her everything.
Martin spoke calmly.
“Ellison Maritime has referred the invoice irregularities to outside counsel and its insurer. Depending on what the full review establishes, the matter may be referred further.”
Daniel’s confidence disappeared.
“Claire, please.”
It was the first word he had said all day that sounded sincere.
“Please what?”
“We can fix this.”
I almost laughed.
“You mean I can fix it.”
He flinched.
“You wanted access to my house, my company, my father’s property, and apparently as much money as you could bill before anyone noticed.”
“That isn’t fair.”
“Fair?”
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