“And the company?”
“That depends on how much of it is legitimate, how much was used, and who knew.”
Claire thought of employees with mortgages and children.
Assistants who had nothing to do with Danny’s decisions.
Contractors waiting to be paid.
“I don’t want innocent people destroyed with him.”
Evelyn studied her.
“Then we separate facts from revenge.”
“I’m not doing this for revenge.”
“Good,” Evelyn said.
“Because facts will be enough.”
Back in Boston, Danny was doing exactly what his lawyer had told him not to do.
Not deleting records.
He was too cautious for something that obvious.
Instead, he started asking questions.
Which employees had spoken to Claire recently?
Who had access to archived project files?
Had anyone received unusual requests from her?
He framed every inquiry as concern about his missing wife.
The controller, a meticulous woman named Beth, answered two questions before realizing Danny was not really asking about Claire.
He was asking about records.
“Why does any of this matter if the problem is that Claire left?” Beth asked.
Danny smiled.
“Because she took company property.”
Beth stared at him.
“You said she took a USB.”
“Exactly.”
“Then why are you asking me about municipal approval files from last year?”
Danny’s smile disappeared.
Beth remembered that moment later.
It became important.
Three days afterward, attorneys representing the company received preservation notices connected to an investigation.
Records were not to be destroyed or altered.
Financial data, correspondence, transaction histories and communications involving specified entities had to be retained.
Danny read the notice twice.
Then he shut his office door.
His first instinct was to call Claire.
His second was to blame her.
His third was to realize that blaming her would not answer the questions investigators were about to ask.
The company board called an emergency meeting.
Danny arrived prepared.
He described Claire as a devastated spouse who had taken confidential information during an emotional crisis.
He admitted the affair before anyone else could use it against him.
“I made an unforgivable personal mistake,” he said.
“But my marriage has nothing to do with the integrity of this business.”
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Beth placed a folder on the table.
Danny looked at it.
“What’s that?”
“Copies of payment instructions you gave me.”
His expression remained controlled.
“Routine transfers.”
“Then you can explain them.”
“I don’t appreciate the implication.”
Beth’s hands were trembling, but her voice was not.
“Neither do I.
