Chapter 3 - What Camera Four Heard
Samuel turned toward Richard.
“Why are you nervous?”
“I’m not.”
“Then you won't mind if we listen.”
The corporate security director tapped the screen.
Audio filled the lobby.
Richard’s voice came first.
Recorded forty minutes earlier near the private entrance.
“Victor, I can't keep hiding this.”
Then Victor:
“You're being paid very well to hide it.”
Emily stared at Richard.
The recording continued.
Richard lowered his voice.
“The vendor invoices are getting too large.”
Victor replied:
“Bellmore pays. My company invoices. You approve. Everyone wins.”
“What if corporate audits us?”
“They won't.”
“And if they do?”
Victor laughed.
“Then you lose some emails.”
The recording stopped.
Silence.
Jonathan Pierce looked at Richard.
“What invoices?”
Richard swallowed.
“I can explain.”
Samuel said, “Please do.”
Victor stepped forward.
“That recording is being taken out of context.”
Samuel looked at him.
“What context makes fraud sound better?”
“Fraud?”
Victor’s voice sharpened.
“Be careful with accusations.”
Jonathan turned to the security director.
“Lock Richard's system access immediately.”
Richard panicked.
“Jonathan—”
“Now.”
The woman pulled out her phone.
Victor reached for his own.
Samuel spoke without raising his voice.
“Don't.”
Victor looked at him.
“Excuse me?”
“You're free to call your attorney. But if you're thinking about calling someone to destroy evidence, I wouldn't recommend it.”
Victor’s eyes narrowed.
“You have no idea who you're dealing with.”
Samuel almost smiled.
“Forty-two years ago, I borrowed against my house to open a forty-room hotel near O’Hare. I washed dishes when the dishwasher quit. I carried luggage when the bellman called sick.”
He pointed toward Emily.
“I built this company so the person behind that desk would never have to decide whether someone's dignity depended on the size of their bank account.”
Victor scoffed.
“This is sentimental nonsense.”
Samuel's eyes hardened.
“And you just assaulted one of my employees in front of witnesses and cameras.”
Victor looked toward Richard.
“Handle this.”
Richard didn't move.
“Richard.”
Still nothing.
Victor's voice rose.
“I've protected you for three years.”
That sentence changed everything.
Samuel looked at the security director.
“You heard that?”
“Yes, sir.”
Richard closed his eyes.
Jonathan stepped toward him.
“Three years?”
Richard's shoulders dropped.
“It's not what you think.”
Samuel answered:
“Then tell us what it is.”
Richard looked at Victor.
Victor stared back with a silent warning.
Richard finally whispered:
“Lang Development has been overbilling Bellmore renovation projects.”
Jonathan's expression went still.
“How much?”
“I don't know.”
“Richard.”
“Maybe eight million.”
Emily heard Melissa gasp.
Victor snapped:
“Shut your mouth.”
Richard suddenly shouted back:
“You said nobody would ever check!”
Samuel didn't move.
“Apparently,” he said, “someone checked.”
Victor reached for his coat.
“We're done.”
Samuel nodded toward hotel security.
“Mr. Lang may leave the property. Preserve every security recording of his visit.”
Victor stopped in front of Emily.
“This girl caused all this.”
Emily looked at him.
“No, Mr. Lang.”
Her voice was calm.
May you like
“You did.”
For the first time that evening, Victor had no answer.
