Chương 5
The legal pad remained blank on her lap.
“Security is downstairs,” she added. “Graham sent them to recover the folder.”
Inés swore softly.
“I told them hospital staff would remove them if they approached the room,” Miriam said. “They’re waiting in the lobby.”
“Are they police?” Laura asked.
“No.”
“Then they can wait.”
“That is my recommendation.”
“What happens to me?”
Miriam did not answer quickly, which Laura seemed to respect more than reassurance.
“You could be terminated for removing confidential records,” she said. “GlobalTech could seek an injunction requiring you to return every copy. Depending on the records and how they were accessed, the company might allege violations of policy or law.”
“Could I be arrested?”
“I’m not your attorney.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
“Yes,” Miriam said. “An allegation could be referred to law enforcement. Whether anyone would act on it is another matter.”
Javier turned toward her. “You think that’s likely?”
“I think frightened companies make aggressive decisions.”
“Graham would never—”
He stopped because Laura was watching him.
Miriam noticed too. “You were saying?”
“Nothing.”
Laura took the folder from the rolling table. “I need a lawyer.”
“Yes.”
“I can’t afford one.”
“I can give you names of whistleblower counsel, but I cannot advise you whom to hire.”
“Will GlobalTech pay?”
“No.”
“Of course not.”
Inés pulled the hospital blanket higher over her stomach. “I will.”
Laura’s head turned.
“You saved my life,” Inés said. “Or at least prevented something worse. Let me pay for a lawyer.”
“No.”
“It’s not charity.”
“It’s exactly charity.”
“It’s gratitude.”
“Which your brother’s CEO already says compromises him.”
Inés flushed.
Laura’s voice became gentler. “I’m glad you’re safe. I don’t want anything from you.”
“That’s not fair.”
“No,” Laura said. “It isn’t.”
Javier looked at his sister. She was accustomed to solving discomfort by offering what she had—money, food, a spare bedroom, practical help. Refusal made her look smaller.
Miriam tapped her pen against the legal pad. “There may be another option. The audit committee can authorize independent counsel for a whistleblower interview if the chair agrees the allegation is credible.”
“Who is the chair?” Laura asked.
“Evelyn Shah.”
“Does she answer to Graham?”
“Not formally.”
“That wasn’t my question either.”
Miriam’s mouth shifted. “No one reaches that board without relationships. But Evelyn takes financial controls seriously.”
“Call her,” Javier said.
Miriam looked at him. “Once I do, this cannot remain an internal management issue.”
“It stopped being one when someone tried to erase the logs.”
“It may delay the merger.”
“Call her.”
“You should understand what follows. The board may suspend you while your authorization token is investigated.”
“I understand.”
“You may not be able to direct the investigation.”
“I understand.”
“Graham will say your sister’s involvement makes you incapable of objectivity.”
Inés opened her mouth.
Javier raised a hand before she could speak.
“Call Evelyn.”
Miriam stepped into the corridor.
Laura sat very still. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“Yes, I did.”
“No. You could have taken the folder back to the company, blamed the contractor, and told yourself you were following procedure.”
“I haven’t ruled out blaming the contractor.”
She looked at him for a moment, then gave a short, surprised laugh.
It was the first time he saw what she might look like when she was not afraid.
By noon, the audit committee had retained an outside law firm. By one, Laura had spoken to one of its partners in a consultation room that smelled of disinfectant and old coffee. By two, GlobalTech had placed her contract on administrative hold and disabled her system access.
At two fifteen, someone from the staffing agency called to tell her not to return to the office.
At two seventeen, the same person called back and said she should not discuss the reason with other contractors.
At two thirty, Teresa returned with Sofía and a paper bag of sandwiches nobody wanted.
Laura ate half of one because her daughter watched her.
Javier stood near the window while the city reflected faintly in the glass. His phone vibrated every few minutes. Board members. Finance executives. The merger adviser. His assistant. Graham. Martin. His driver, asking whether he should remain nearby.
Javier answered only Inés’s husband, Daniel, who was flying home from Denver.
“You were supposed to go with her to the appointment,” Javier said.
“I was supposed to land last night. The flight was canceled.”
“She went downtown alone.”
“She said she was meeting you for breakfast.”
Javier closed his eyes.
Inés had invited him to breakfast three times that week. He had declined because of the merger.
“She didn’t tell me that.”
“She probably knew you’d say no.”
Daniel’s voice broke on the last word. “Is she really okay?”
“Yes.”
“And the baby?”
“Yes.”
A quiet breath passed through the call.
“Thank the woman for me.”
“I’m trying.”
When Javier returned to the room, Laura was folding the sandwich wrapper into smaller and smaller squares. Sofía had fallen asleep with her head in Teresa’s lap.
Miriam stood in the doorway.
“The audit committee has suspended you,” she told Javier.
Inés sat up. “For how long?”
“Pending preliminary review.”
Laura stopped folding the paper.
“Graham has appointed Beth acting CFO,” Miriam continued.
Javier laughed once, without humor. “The controller named in the allegation.”
“Evelyn objected. Graham argued business continuity. The full board will meet tonight.”
“Martin?”
“Still in his position.”
“Of course.”
Miriam looked at Laura. “The company has also sent a preservation notice to your personal email and devices. Outside counsel will contact your attorney.”
“I don’t have one yet.”
“They are aware.”
“What does a preservation notice mean?”
“Do not delete any messages, documents, photographs, browsing history, or files related to GlobalTech.”
“I wasn’t planning to.”
“It also means do not post about this or discuss it publicly.”
“I don’t post about anything.”
Teresa looked down at the sleeping child. “She posts pictures of burnt food.”
Laura gave her a tired look. “One picture.”
May you like
“It was very burnt.”
For a few seconds, even Miriam’s face softened.
