Her eyes moved across the room. Then they stopped on Richard.
“Richard Lawson.”
Richard tried to straighten his tie.
“Yes.”
The investigator stepped inside.
“Mr. Lawson, we need to ask you several questions regarding large financial transfers made through Keller Manufacturing over the last three years.”
Linda grabbed his arm tightly.
“Richard, we should call a lawyer.”
The investigator looked at her calmly.
“That would be wise.”
Richard glanced around the room, at the board members, at the documents on the table, at me, and I saw something in his face that I had never seen before. Fear. Real fear. Mr. Ramirez spoke carefully.
“Officers, this meeting was called because the majority shareholder just became aware of the situation.”
The investigators turned toward me. The woman stepped forward politely.
“And you are?”
I answered quietly.
“Margaret Harper.”
Her eyes moved to the documents on the table.
“Majority shareholder of Keller Manufacturing?”
She nodded slowly. Then she looked back at Richard.
“Mr. Lawson, it appears the company’s leadership was not fully aware of the transactions made under your direction.”
Richard suddenly raised his voice.
“This is ridiculous. These were business investments.”
The investigator opened her folder.
“Investments that moved over eighty million dollars into offshore accounts connected to shell companies.”
The room went silent. Eighty million. Even the board members looked shocked. Richard pointed toward Linda.
“She handled those connections.”
Linda stepped backward quickly.
“Do not drag me into this.”
Richard stared at her.
“You told me those investors were legitimate.”
The investigators exchanged a glance. It was clear they had heard this kind of argument many times before. The woman investigator spoke calmly.
“Mr. Lawson, we would like you to come with us to answer questions.”
Richard’s breathing grew heavier.
“Am I under arrest?”
“Not at this moment, but we strongly recommend your cooperation.”
Richard looked at me again.
“Margaret, you planned this.”
I shook my head slowly.
“No, Richard. You planned this. You made those decisions. You signed those papers. You moved that money. I simply showed up today. The truth had been waiting for you.”
For the first time in years, Richard had nothing to say. The investigators stepped closer.
“Mr. Lawson, please come with us.”
Richard looked around the room. At the board, at the employees outside the glass walls, at Linda. But Linda had already stepped away from him. He walked toward the door slowly. Before leaving, he turned back toward me.
“Forty years, Margaret. Forty years, and this is how it ends.”
I looked at him quietly.
“No, Richard. This ended the day you decided I was worth nothing.”
The investigators escorted him into the hallway. Linda stood frozen in the doorway. Her confident smile was gone. She looked small now, angry, afraid. Mr. Caldwell spoke firmly.
“Ms. Carter, your communications with those investors will also need to be reviewed.”
Linda quickly grabbed her purse.
“I want a lawyer.”
“That is your right,” the investigator said.
Linda looked at me one last time.
“You think you won?”
But all I saw in her eyes was panic. She hurried down the hallway after Richard. The door closed, and suddenly the boardroom was quiet again. Mr. Ramirez let out a long breath.
“Well, that escalated quickly.”
Several board members nodded. The elderly man smiled gently at me.
“Mrs. Harper, you just saved this company.”
“Saved it?”
