Chapter 7 - THE MAN WHO WAS SAVING EVERYONE
“Gabriel is stealing the money?”
Vittorio stared at the account information.
“That can't be right.”
Damian placed the folder on the desk.
“It's his holding account.”
“He said it was a temporary vehicle for restoring the retirement fund.”
Elena folded her arms.
“Just like you said the money you borrowed from the Lantern House was temporary?”
Vittorio looked ashamed.
For once, he had nothing to say.
Damian examined the account schedule again.
There was a notation indicating that the sale proceeds would first settle outstanding obligations connected to Riverside Fleet Holdings.
That company had been created by Gabriel seven months earlier.
Gabriel wasn't simply arranging a sale.
He was moving the proceeds through a company he controlled.
Damian picked up the folder.
“I'm going to find out where that money is going.”
Vittorio stood.
“Don't do anything reckless.”
Damian looked at him.
“I'm not going to hurt him, Father.”
Vittorio seemed surprised.
“Then what are you going to do?”
“Something you should have done months ago.”
“What's that?”
“Tell the truth.”
Gabriel Mercer was waiting in his office when Damian returned.
He didn't appear surprised to see Elena beside him.
“I assume you've spoken to your father.”
Damian placed the blue folder on the desk.
“Explain Northlake.”
Gabriel studied the papers.
Then removed his glasses.
“It's a financing arrangement.”
“Why is your personal holding account receiving the sale proceeds?”
“Because I personally guaranteed the refinancing.”
“With what?”
“My house. My retirement accounts. Everything I own.”
Elena looked at him.
“Why would you do that?”
Gabriel took a long breath.
“Because your father-in-law asked me to save the company.”
Damian remained standing.
“Start at the beginning.”
Gabriel walked to the window.
“Three years ago, we invested heavily in expanding the fleet. New vehicles, equipment, commercial contracts. Then operating costs increased, two major clients canceled their agreements, and the pension obligations became impossible to meet.”
“Why didn't you tell me?” Damian asked.
“I did. You told me to fix it.”
Damian remembered the meeting.
He had been distracted.
Elena had just returned home from a medical appointment.
He had listened to Gabriel for five minutes before instructing him to handle the problem.
Gabriel continued.
“I borrowed money. I refinanced assets. I guaranteed loans personally because I thought the business would recover.”
“And when it didn't?” Elena asked.
“I needed something valuable enough to cover the shortfall.”
“The Lantern House.”
Gabriel nodded.
“I never wanted to destroy your center, Elena. I thought you could relocate.”
“You didn't ask me.”
“No.”
“You forged my signature.”
Gabriel lowered his eyes.
“I authorized the use of a signature already on file.”
“That is forgery,” she said.
He didn't argue.
Damian stepped forward.
“And the hazardous-material report?”
Gabriel hesitated.
“I requested an accelerated inspection.”
“Based on a genuine hazard?” Elena demanded.
Gabriel remained silent.
That answered her question.
Elena felt sick.
“You were willing to frighten everyone who works there just to empty the building.”
“I needed the sale completed before the lenders called the remaining loans.”
“Then you should have asked for help,” Damian said.
Gabriel turned sharply.
“From you?”
His composure finally broke.
“The man who signs papers without reading them? Who tells everyone to fix things and then punishes them when they fail?”
Damian absorbed the accusation.
Gabriel's voice trembled.
“I spent nineteen years keeping this family business alive. I missed birthdays. I missed anniversaries. My marriage ended because I was always in this office. And I convinced myself it would be worth something if I could just save the company.”
Elena felt a moment of pity.
But only a moment.
“You had choices,” she said. “You made sure everyone else lost theirs.”
Gabriel looked at her.
“I know.”
Damian placed the folder on the desk.
“The sale isn't happening.”
Gabriel shook his head.
“You don't understand. The lender has already scheduled the final transfer.”
“When?”
“Tomorrow morning.”
Damian reached for his phone, then stopped.
He looked at Elena.
“What do you want us to do?”
She noticed the question.
So did Gabriel.
Elena thought carefully.
“Find the original trust agreement. Prove that Gabriel never had authority to sell the building. And put the real financial records in front of the people whose money was taken.”
Gabriel's expression changed.
“You can't do that.”
“Why not?”
“Because the missing funds aren't the only problem.”
He opened a drawer and removed another financial statement.
“This was submitted to the city six months ago.”
Damian scanned it.
His face went white.
The document showed that the Lantern House had received a $900,000 municipal grant for renovations.
The center had never received that money.
But the attached acknowledgment carried Elena's signature.
And the payment had been deposited into an account opened in her name.
May you like
Gabriel looked at her.
“If this investigation becomes public, Elena could be the first person they accuse.”
