Then he left. Clare watched him disappear into the hallway. Richard looked at her. He is good at his job. Clare nodded.
Very. Richard returned his attention to the meeting schedule. Still, we need to keep the larger picture in mind. Facilities is expensive. Clare looked at him.
How expensive? Richard paused. Why? Because I asked. He opened his folder.
The department has been over budget for several quarters. Clare said nothing. Later that afternoon, she reviewed the financial summary for facilities and noticed several charges she did not recognize. They were not large enough to attract immediate attention, but there were enough of them to make her pause. She asked the finance department for the supporting documents.
Meanwhile, Daniel returned to his regular duties, checking equipment and answering service requests. He had no idea that Clare was looking into his department. He only knew that something about the conversation with Richard had felt different. That evening, Daniel left the building at 5:15, drove home through the steady Seattle traffic, and found Lily waiting at the kitchen table with her homework spread out in front of her. Daddy, you are late.
Daniel smiled by 7 minutes. That is still late. Fair enough. He sat beside her and helped with a math problem. Across the city, Clare remained in her office staring at the same financial report.
One number appeared twice, but under different department codes. She opened another report. The same pattern appeared again. Clare leaned back in her chair. It could have been an administrative mistake.
It could have been a harmless accounting issue, but three identical discrepancies were no longer easy to ignore. She picked up her phone and called her assistant. Tomorrow morning, I want every facility's expense from the last 12 months. She paused. And I want the original records, not just the summary.
Then she looked once more at the name at the top of the department list, Daniel Carter. For the first time, Clare wondered whether the quiet man she had met in the lobby had been noticing things inside the company that everyone else had learned to overlook. Daddy, are you sure you are not in trouble? Lily asked from across the kitchen table. Daniel Carter smiled and set his coffee beside her homework.
I am sure you said that yesterday and I meant it yesterday. Lily narrowed her eyes with the seriousness only an 8-year-old could manage. Then why did your boss ask about you? Daniel paused. He had not told her about Clare Bennett.
She was asking about my work. The nice boss? Lily asked. Daniel smiled. Yes, the nice boss.
He did not know that across the city, Clare was asking much more serious questions. By 8 the next morning, the original facilities records had arrived on her desk. She compared them with the financial summaries one page at a time. The difference was small at first. Then she found another, then another.
The same type of expense had been assigned to maintenance even though the related equipment had been covered by contractor warranties. Clare called the finance director. Can you verify these charges? We already reviewed the summary. I am asking about the original invoices.
There was a pause. Yes, I can have them sent over. Clare looked at the clock. Please do. Two hours later, Ethan was working near a service corridor when Clare appeared.