Chapter 4: The Ledger He Tried to Destroy
"Don't touch those papers!""
Curtis's voice echoed through the hallway.
The metal trash can lay on its side behind him. Torn documents covered the carpet, and several yellow sheets had landed near the office doorway.
Elaine stepped forward.
"Move away from the documents, Curtis.""
He shook his head.
"Those are confidential personnel records. You can't just walk in here and start taking things.""
Megan stared at the yellow cover lying beside his shoe.
*CASH DISCREPANCY RECORD — CONFIDENTIAL.*
It was exactly what she had been looking for.
"Why were you throwing that away?"" she asked.
Curtis turned toward her.
"Because it's outdated.""
"Then why did you try to destroy it?""
"I didn't destroy anything.""
Elaine raised her phone.
"Security, I need you to document this entire area. Photograph every page before anything is moved.""
The officer approached Curtis.
"Sir, step away from the trash can.""
Curtis didn't move.
"You don't understand. This woman has been causing problems since her first week. She's been digging through records she has no business accessing.""
Elaine's expression hardened.
"Corporate assigned her to review those records.""
"Then why wasn't I informed?""
"Because the investigation concerns you.""
Curtis opened his mouth, but nothing came out.
Megan crouched near the doorway.
She could see several figures written on the yellow pages.
Dates.
Deposit amounts.
Employee initials.
And something that made her heart pound.
Her own name.
She reached toward the paper.
"Don't touch it," Elaine instructed gently.
"We'll have everything collected properly.""
Megan stood again.
"Why is my name on that ledger?""
Curtis immediately answered.
"Because you were involved.""
"Involved in what?""
"Don't pretend you don't know.""
Elaine turned toward him.
"Explain.""
Curtis pointed at Megan.
"She was assigned to investigate the deposits. She had access to the records. Anyone could have manipulated those figures.""
Megan stared at him.
"You're saying I falsified records before I even arrived?""
"I'm saying we don't know what you've done.""
Elaine shook her head.
"That's an interesting accusation from the person who tried to destroy the evidence.""
The security officer began photographing the documents.
Curtis watched every movement.
His jaw tightened.
Then he suddenly looked toward Dylan.
"Tell them what happened.""
Dylan stood near the office entrance.
"What?""
"Tell them who had access to the accounting system.""
Dylan hesitated.
"Several people.""
"Exactly. Tell them Megan had access.""
"She did.""
"And tell them she was asking about the deposits before anyone authorized her to do so.""
Dylan looked at Elaine.
"She was authorized.""
Curtis's face darkened.
"Watch what you're saying.""
Dylan lowered his eyes.
"I said she was authorized.""
Megan watched him carefully.
It was the first time he'd openly challenged Curtis.
Elaine noticed too.
"Good. Now let's establish what these records actually contain.""
The officer collected the loose pages and placed them in separate evidence sleeves.
A few minutes later, Elaine received authorization from corporate security to open the locked drawer.
The officer used the approved access procedure.
Inside were three notebooks, a USB drive, several bank receipts, and a thick envelope marked with a date.
Megan recognized the dates immediately.
They covered the same six weeks she'd been investigating.
Elaine opened the first notebook.
Every page contained handwritten entries.
Unlike the official accounting reports, these records showed the exact amount removed from each deposit.
Five hundred dollars.
Seven hundred.
Twelve hundred.
Sometimes more.
Elaine turned several pages.
"These figures match the discrepancies.""
Megan leaned closer.
"Look at the initials.""
Each transaction had two sets of initials.
C.M.
And D.R.
Curtis Miller.
Dylan Reed.
Dylan stared at the notebook.
"I didn't write all of those.""
Curtis laughed bitterly.
"Of course you didn't. You want to blame me for everything now.""
Elaine pointed to a signature.
"Is this yours, Dylan?""
He examined it.
"Some of them are.""
"Did you sign these records?""
"Yes.""
"Why?""
Dylan looked at Curtis.
"He told me they were internal adjustment records.""
Curtis slammed his fist against the office doorframe.
"You're a liar!""
The security officer stepped between them.
"Sir, back up.""
Curtis took a breath.
Then he straightened his shirt.
"Fine. Take the books. Take everything. But don't expect to find anything illegal.""
Elaine opened the envelope.
Inside were printed emails and a list of bank transfers.
Megan scanned the first page.
Then she stopped.
The account number was familiar.
It was the same personal account shown on Dylan's deposit receipt.
But the recipient name on the transfer records was different.
A woman named Laura Miller.
Curtis's wife.
Megan looked up.
"Elaine, we need to check this account.""
Elaine examined the document.
"These are transfers from Dylan's account to another account.""
Dylan looked horrified.
"I never saw that name.""
Curtis's face turned red.
"That's my wife's account. She has nothing to do with this.""
"Then why is company money being transferred to her?"" Elaine asked.
"Because I borrowed money from the business. I intended to pay it back.""
Elaine closed the folder.
"How much?""
Curtis didn't answer.
"How much, Curtis?""
He looked toward the hallway.
The officer moved slightly, blocking his path.
Finally, Curtis muttered, "Around thirty thousand.""
Megan felt her stomach drop.
Thirty thousand dollars.
And he'd tried to frame her over five hundred.
Elaine took a slow breath.
"You're going to explain every transaction to corporate investigators.""
Curtis looked at Megan.
"You think you're innocent because you found a few papers?""
Megan didn't respond.
He leaned closer.
"You have no idea what you're walking into.""
Then he smiled.
Not the confident smile from the beginning of the shift.
Something more desperate.
"Ask Elaine why she waited so long to investigate.""
Megan turned toward Elaine.
Elaine's expression changed.
Curtis noticed.
"Go ahead," he said.
"Ask her.""
Elaine closed the notebook.
"Security, take Curtis to the conference room. He is not to access any company systems.""
As the officer escorted him away, Curtis called over his shoulder.
"Ask her who approved my bonuses!""
The office fell silent.
Megan slowly turned toward Elaine.
"What did he mean?""
Elaine looked at the closed office door.
Then she said something Megan hadn't expected.
May you like
"I think we need to talk about who was protecting Curtis before you arrived.""
And suddenly, the investigation seemed much bigger than one dishonest manager.
