A WAITRESS FED THE SAME HOMELESS MAN EVERY NIGHT—ONE DAY, HE WALKED IN WEARING A SUIT
Chapter 5
The next morning, Emma walked into Harrison Capital.
The lobby was enormous.
Marble floors.
Glass walls.
Security guards.
Employees in expensive suits.
Nobody looked at her twice until she approached reception.
“I need to speak with Richard Harrison.”
The receptionist smiled politely.
“Do you have an appointment?”
“No.”
“Then I’m afraid—”
“I have information concerning David Hayes.”
The receptionist’s smile disappeared.
She picked up the phone.
“Mr. Harrison’s office?”
Emma waited.
A minute later, a security officer approached.
“Miss Carter?”
“Yes.”
“Mr. Harrison will see you.”
Emma’s stomach tightened.
She entered an elevator.
When the doors opened, Richard Harrison was waiting.
He was older than the photograph.
Silver hair.
Perfect suit.
A smile that never reached his eyes.
“Emma Carter.”
She stopped.
“How do you know my name?”
“Your father was a good man.”
“You knew him.”
“Of course.”
Richard gestured toward his office.
Emma entered.
He poured water.
“Your father worked with David Hayes.”
“I know.”
“Then you also know David betrayed the company.”
“I don’t believe that.”
Richard smiled.
“Belief is irrelevant.”
“Where is he?”
Richard looked at her.
“I don’t know.”
“Did you hire someone to find him?”
A pause.
“You’re asking dangerous questions.”
“So I’ve been told.”
Richard leaned back.
“You seem to care about David.”
“He helped me when I needed help.”
Richard laughed softly.
“A homeless man helped you?”
“He reminded me that people deserve dignity.”
Richard’s expression changed.
Only for a second.
Then the door opened.
A young executive entered.
“Mr. Harrison, the auditors are here.”
Richard stood.
“Tell them I’m coming.”
The executive looked at Emma.
His face changed.
He knew something.
Emma noticed.
“Who are you?”
He hesitated.
“Daniel Reed.”
Richard’s voice sharpened.
“Go.”
Daniel left.
Emma followed him into the hallway.
“Wait.”
Daniel stopped.
“You know David.”
Daniel looked frightened.
“Not here.”
He walked toward the stairwell.
Emma followed.
Inside, he whispered:
“David came back two weeks ago.”
“What happened?”
“He showed me documents.”
“What documents?”
“Transfers.”
“From Harrison Capital?”
“Yes.”
“Where is he?”
Daniel looked around.
“He discovered that someone inside the company has been moving money for years.”
“Who?”
Daniel’s face went pale.
Before he could answer, a voice came from the stairwell.
“Daniel.”
They both turned.
Richard stood at the door.
Daniel stepped backward.
Richard smiled.
“Perhaps we should continue this conversation upstairs.”
Emma realized something.
Daniel wasn’t afraid of losing his job.
He was afraid of Richard.
And that meant David had been right.
The danger wasn’t outside Harrison Capital.
It was inside.
