CHAPTER 5 — THE ACCOUNT WITH MY NAME
By sunrise, I understood why Daniel had tried to transfer eight hundred thousand dollars from my trust.
The offshore account bearing my initials was nearly empty.
More than two million dollars had passed through it, but the funds had quickly been moved elsewhere.
To anyone reviewing the records, it would appear that I had received the money.
If the practice collapsed, Daniel could blame me.
If regulators investigated, my name would lead them in the wrong direction.
“He was building an escape route,” Maya said.
“And making me the criminal.”
Marcus continued examining the transfers.
“Whoever planned this understood financial investigations.”
I thought of Richard.
He had spent thirty years managing medical businesses. He handled taxes, contracts, employee benefits and investments.
Daniel knew how to operate on a heart.
Richard knew how to hide money.
At eight that morning, Daniel returned.
He entered through the garage as if it were an ordinary day.
Maya and Marcus were still seated at the dining table.
Daniel stopped when he saw them.
“What is this?”
“An independent review,” I said.
“Of what?”
“My company.”
His jaw tightened.
“Bennett Cardiac Associates is not your company.”
I slid the original operating agreement across the table.
Daniel looked down.
For the first time, genuine fear appeared in his eyes.
“You went through my files.”
“They were inside a safe in my house.”
“Those documents are outdated.”
“The ownership structure was never amended.”
“My father manages the corporation.”
“Your father owns fifteen percent.”
Daniel looked at Maya.
“This is a marital disagreement. You have no right to interfere.”
Maya remained calm.
“Your wife is the controlling shareholder. She has every right to investigate suspected fraud.”
“There is no fraud.”
I placed copies of the Northstar transfers beside the agreement.
Daniel didn’t touch them.
“What is Northstar?”
“A consulting company.”
“What services did it provide?”
“Operational strategy.”
“Where are the invoices?”
“I don’t handle invoices.”
“Then why did Northstar purchase an apartment for you and Olivia?”
He looked at me.
“That was temporary housing.”
“Paid with money from the practice?”
“I can explain.”
“Explain the offshore account in my name.”
His face became still.
That was when I knew he had not expected us to find it so quickly.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Marcus turned his laptop toward him.
Daniel barely glanced at it.
“That could have been created by anyone.”
“Someone used my Social Security number, passport information and trust records.”
“You’re accusing me without proof.”
I studied the man standing across from me.
For twelve years, I had believed his calmness meant integrity.
Now I realized it was simply practice.
Daniel had spent his career delivering bad news without changing his expression.
He had brought the same skill home.
“I am calling an emergency board meeting,” I said.
“You can’t.”
“I already did.”
His phone rang.
Then mine.
Then Maya’s.
A formal notice had gone to every board member.
The meeting was scheduled for noon.
Daniel read the email.
“You’re suspending me?”
“Pending an investigation.”
“I built that practice.”
“My mother’s money built it.”
His eyes darkened.
“You have no idea what you’re doing.”
“You should have remembered that before forging my name.”
Daniel walked toward me.
Maya stood.
He stopped.
Then he picked up his suitcase and left without another word.
At noon, I joined the board meeting by video.
Richard appeared from his office, visibly furious.
Daniel sat beside him.
The remaining two board members had already received copies of the documents.
I formally requested the suspension of Daniel and Richard from all financial and managerial duties.
Richard immediately challenged my authority.
Maya read the ownership agreement aloud.
The vote passed three to two.
Effective immediately, Daniel’s access to corporate accounts, records and offices was suspended.
Richard stared at the screen.
“You’ve made a terrible mistake.”
“No,” I said. “I corrected one.”
The meeting ended.
Ten minutes later, my phone rang.
The caller identified herself as Dr. Helen Monroe, chief compliance officer at St. Catherine Medical Center.
“Mrs. Bennett, we’ve been attempting to reach your husband.”
“He may not answer.”
“There are concerns involving his billing records and a medical device supplier connected to Northstar.”
My pulse quickened.
“What kind of concerns?”
“Potentially serious ones.”
She paused.
“Before we continue, I need to ask you something.”
“All right.”
“Did you personally authorize Northstar Medical Consulting to make payments to three physicians at our hospital?”
“No.”
Another pause.
“Then we may be dealing with more than financial misconduct.”
She sent me a confidential document.
The first page showed a list of doctors who had received payments.
May you like
The final name stopped me.
Dr. Olivia Hart.
