Chapter 8 – The Insider
The words hung in the air.
Someone inside your own company.
Landen stared at Michael Reeves as if he had misheard him.
"What did you say?"
Michael repeated himself.
"The Internal Revenue Service inquiry was initiated after receiving documentation from an individual connected to Bradley Commerce Creative."
Howard frowned.
"One of the employees?"
"I don't have that information."
"But the report identifies the source as an internal party."
The kitchen fell silent once again.
Landen ran both hands through his hair.
"This is insane."
"No," I said quietly.
"It's what happens when people stop trusting leadership."
He shot me an angry look.
"You don't know that."
"I know enough."
For months, I had watched employees leave holiday parties early. I had overheard anxious phone calls. I had noticed vendors requesting payment before beginning new projects.
The warning signs had always been there.
Landen simply refused to see them.
Michael glanced at his watch.
"My responsibility was to deliver these notices."
He handed another envelope to Cynthia.
"This contains the bank's formal request for financial records."
She accepted it.
"We'll respond within the required timeframe."
Michael nodded politely.
"I appreciate your cooperation."
Before leaving, he looked at Landen one last time.
"I sincerely hope the investigation clears things up."
The front door closed behind him.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Finally, Howard broke the silence.
"Who would report their own company?"
Landen answered immediately.
"Derek."
His voice was bitter.
"It had to be Derek Collins."
I folded my arms.
"The former financial controller?"
"He disappeared six months ago."
"He resigned."
"He walked out without warning."
I looked at him carefully.
"Or perhaps he walked away because he saw something he didn't want to be part of."
His jaw tightened.
"You always liked him."
"I respected him."
"Same difference."
"No."
I shook my head.
"I respected the fact that he questioned numbers."
Landen laughed sarcastically.
"He questioned everything."
"That's what good financial controllers are supposed to do."
Howard looked at his son.
"Did the two of you argue?"
Landen hesitated.
"We had... disagreements."
"What kind of disagreements?"
"He thought I was spending too aggressively."
I raised an eyebrow.
"Was he wrong?"
No answer.
That silence told me more than words ever could.
At that moment, Cedric wandered back into the kitchen with his stuffed elephant tucked under one arm.
He looked around.
"Did the people leave?"
"Some of them did," I said.
He nodded thoughtfully.
"Can I have some cereal?"
The simple question felt almost surreal after everything that had happened.
"Of course."
I poured him a bowl while the adults remained trapped in silence.
Cedric climbed onto his favorite stool and happily ate, completely unaware that his parents' marriage was falling apart around him.
Watching him reminded me of something.
I looked at Landen.
"When was the last time you had breakfast with him?"
He frowned.
"What?"
"You heard me."
"I've been busy."
"So... you don't remember."
Howard looked uncomfortable.
"Landen works hard."
"So do I."
I placed the milk back in the refrigerator.
"But somehow I still know that Cedric likes strawberries cut into stars."
I smiled at my son.
"Right, sweetheart?"
He grinned.
"They taste better that way."
I looked back at Landen.
"When was the last time you read him a bedtime story?"
He remained silent.
"When was the last time you attended a parent-teacher conference?"
Silence.
"Or helped him with homework?"
Nothing.
I wasn't trying to embarrass him.
I was stating facts.
Cedric looked up innocently.
"Daddy says he's too busy."
The words were soft.
Honest.
And devastating.
Landen looked at his son with obvious guilt.
"I know, buddy."
"I wish you weren't so busy."
My heart broke for both of them.
Landen loved our son.
I had never doubted that.
But somewhere along the way, he had mistaken providing for his family as a substitute for being present.
Now he was in danger of losing both.
His phone suddenly buzzed again.
He looked at the screen.
This time, he answered immediately.
"Hello?"
Nobody interrupted.
We all listened.
"Slow down."
A pause.
"What do you mean they're here?"
Another pause.
"No... don't let anyone touch the servers."
His face turned pale.
"I'm on my way."
He ended the call.
Howard stood.
"What happened?"
Landen swallowed hard.
"The auditors."
"What about them?"
"They're already at the office."
Cynthia wasn't surprised.
"That was fast."
"They're imaging every computer."
His voice was shaking now.
"They're copying all of the accounting files."
I looked at him carefully.
"If you've done nothing wrong, then you have nothing to fear."
He didn't answer.
Instead, he grabbed his car keys from the counter.
"I have to go."
Before he reached the front door, Cynthia spoke.
"Mr. Bradley."
He stopped.
"As your wife's attorney, I'm advising you of one important fact."
He turned slowly.
"What?"
"Do not destroy documents."
His face hardened.
"I wouldn't."
"Do not delete emails."
"I said I wouldn't."
"And do not contact employees to coordinate their statements."
Howard looked confused.
"Why would she say that?"
Cynthia answered without taking her eyes off Landen.
"Because those are the first three mistakes people make when they panic."
The room fell silent again.
Landen stared at her for several long seconds.
Then he quietly set his car keys back on the kitchen counter.
That single movement told me everything.
He hadn't planned to drive to the office to help.
He had planned to get there before the investigators found something.
May you like
And now...
He knew it was already too late.
