Chapter 12 - THE TRUSTED MAN’S RING
Mary did not confront Julian immediately.
She sent the photograph to Rebecca.
Then she asked hotel security to review every recording of Julian from the previous forty-eight hours.
Julian had remained beside her through the canceled wedding.
He had followed every instruction.
He had helped expose Ethan.
He had also served her family since Mary was a child.
That history made the photograph more dangerous.
Mary entered Julian’s office shortly after midnight.
He was standing near the window.
The gold signet ring was on his right hand.
“You were in Charles Cole’s basement.”
Julian did not pretend to misunderstand.
“Yes.”
Mary closed the door.
“When?”
“One week before your father died.”
“Why?”
“Thomas asked me to go with him.”
Mary placed the photograph on his desk.
“You never told me.”
“Your father made me promise.”
“My father died.”
“The promise should have died with him.”
Julian’s face tightened.
“He believed someone inside Whitmore Capital was helping Charles.”
“He did not know whom he could trust.”
“He asked me to accompany him while he searched for evidence.”
“Did you find the ledger?”
“Yes.”
“Why did Charles still have it?”
“We photographed several pages.”
“Thomas wanted more time before involving law enforcement.”
Mary stared at him.
“Where are the photographs?”
Julian opened a locked drawer.
He removed a small silver drive.
“I kept them hidden.”
“You watched me finance Charles for eighteen months.”
“Why didn’t you give them to me?”
“Because one page showed transfers authorized by your mother.”
Mary froze.
Her mother, Catherine Whitmore, had died when Mary was sixteen.
She had been remembered as a philanthropist and respected board member.
Julian inserted the drive into his computer.
The records showed Catherine approved early payments to one of Charles’s shell companies.
Mary shook her head.
“My mother would never help him.”
“Your father believed her signature had been forged.”
“Then why hide it?”
“Because he found evidence suggesting the person who forged it still worked within Whitmore Capital.”
Julian opened another image.
It showed a confidential authorization code.
Only three people had access to it.
Thomas.
Catherine.
And Julian.
Mary stepped away from the desk.
“You expect me to believe someone stole your code?”
“No.”
Julian removed his ring and placed it beside the computer.
“I expect you to consider that I may be guilty.”
Mary said nothing.
Julian continued.
“I authorized the first transfer.”
“I believed Charles was acquiring riverfront land for your father.”
“When I discovered the truth, it was too late.”
“So you protected yourself.”
“I tried to protect the company.”
“You protected your position.”
Julian lowered his head.
“Yes.”
The admission hurt more than denial.
Mary reached for the drive.
Before she could take it, the office lights went out.
A security alarm sounded.
May you like
Then a voice came through Mary’s phone.
Ethan was calling from inside the hotel.
