Chapter 9: The Man Behind the Missing Money
By nine the next morning, the investigation had become a company-wide crisis.
Montgomery Global's legal department had confirmed that Graham Pike was related to Silas through Silas's mother's side of the family. He had worked as an external financial consultant for several years, advising employees on investment arrangements and assisting with selected client accounts.
The discovery did not prove that Silas had done anything wrong.
But it raised an uncomfortable question.
Had Graham exploited his relationship with the CEO to gain access to records he shouldn't have controlled?
I arrived at the company's headquarters with my attorney, Rebecca Lawson, a woman recommended by a colleague at the hospital. She had reviewed the documents my father found and advised me to preserve every original, avoid making accusations I couldn't substantiate, and let the investigators establish the facts.
In the conference room, Silas was already waiting with Martin Reeves and Priya Shah.
He greeted Rebecca respectfully before turning to me.
“Jenna, I understand you've received additional information from your sister.””
“Yes. Felicity admitted that she knew the guarantee bearing my name wasn't genuine. She said Graham instructed her to use my information.””
Silas's expression tightened.
“Did she provide any documents supporting that statement?””
“Not yet. She says Graham told her the paperwork would be corrected before anyone discovered it.””
Martin made a note.
“Has she agreed to provide a formal statement?””
“I don't know. She's frightened.””
“That's understandable,” Rebecca said.
“But any statement should be made voluntarily, with an opportunity for her to seek independent advice. We don't want anyone pressured into making claims they can't support.””
Silas nodded.
“Agreed.””
Priya opened a spreadsheet on the screen.
“We've traced the disputed client report through four versions. The original showed a shortfall in the account. A later version showed the discrepancy as resolved. The final version was submitted using Olivia Grant's credentials, even though the modification history points to a different workstation.””
She displayed another record.
“Separately, the employee investment account received a credit entry that appeared to represent repayment from an outside partner. We have not found evidence that the corresponding funds actually arrived.””
Rebecca leaned forward.
“Can you establish who authorized that credit entry?””
“We're narrowing it down. The entry was created under credentials associated with Graham Pike's consulting access, but we still need to verify whether the credentials were used by him personally.””
I looked at Silas.
“Did you know about the investment arrangement?””
“I knew the company had an employee investment program administered through an external partner. I did not personally review every employee account or guarantee.””
“Did you know my name was on one?””
“No.””
His answer came without hesitation.
“If I had known that someone was using your identity without permission, I would have referred it for review immediately.””
Martin cleared his throat.
“Silas, we also need to address the possibility that Graham will claim you approved the disputed transactions.””
Silas's jaw tightened.
“Let him provide the evidence.””
“What if he has something that looks like your approval?””
“Then we'll examine it.””
The calmness in his voice surprised me.
I had expected him to become defensive or insist that his relative couldn't possibly have done anything wrong. Instead, he appeared determined to let the evidence speak.
A knock sounded at the conference room door.
Claire entered.
“Graham Pike has arrived. He says he'll cooperate, but he wants to speak directly with Silas first.””
Martin shook his head.
“That's not appropriate. Any interview needs to be documented, and the relevant counsel must be present.””
Silas stood.
“Then we'll conduct the meeting properly.””
A few minutes later, Graham entered.
He was in his early forties, with silver at his temples and an expensive watch peeking from beneath his sleeve. He wore the relaxed smile of someone accustomed to being welcomed into rooms before anyone asked why he was there.
“Silas,” he said, extending a hand.
“This has gotten completely out of control.””
Silas didn't take it.
“Sit down, Graham.””
The smile faded.
Graham glanced at me.
“And you must be Jenna. I've heard a great deal about you.””
I kept my expression neutral.
“I doubt it.””
He sat across from Silas.
“Look, I understand that Felicity made some mistakes. She's young, ambitious, and inexperienced with complex financial arrangements. I was trying to help her.””
Priya opened her notebook.
“Did you instruct Felicity to submit a financial guarantee bearing Jenna Bennett's signature?””
Graham spread his hands.
“I provided general guidance about the documentation required. I never instructed anyone to forge a signature.””
“Did you know the signature was unauthorized?””
“No.””
I looked directly at him.
“Felicity told me you knew.””
Graham's eyes narrowed.
“Your sister is under enormous pressure. She may be confusing things she heard with things that actually happened.””
“She admitted she knew the signature wasn't genuine.””
“Then perhaps she's trying to shift responsibility.””
Rebecca intervened.
“Mr. Pike, we're not here to argue about anyone's character. Please answer the questions directly.””
Graham leaned back.
“I have nothing to hide.””
Martin placed a printed email on the table.
“Can you explain this message?””
Graham looked at the page.
His expression barely changed, but his fingers stopped moving.
The email showed him discussing a substitute guarantee and warning that the account needed to remain active until the next review.
“That's a routine conversation about documentation,” he said.
“It doesn't establish misconduct.””
“What about the missing repayment?”” Priya asked.
“The external partner was responsible for that.””
“Who instructed the company to record the repayment as received?””
Graham glanced at Silas.
“I believe the entry was approved through the usual process.””
“By whom?””
“I'd have to check.””
Silas leaned forward.
“You've had access to the records for months. You advised employees on the program. You discussed the guarantee with Felicity.
You knew the account was underfunded. Now you're telling us you don't remember who approved the entry?””
Graham's face hardened.
“Careful, Silas. You know how much work I've done for this company.””
“And I know how much access you were given.””
For the first time, Graham looked genuinely angry.
“You're making a mistake by treating me like a criminal.””
“Then help us understand the records.””
Graham looked toward Martin.
“I'll provide a written response after I've consulted my own attorney.””
“That is your right,” Martin replied.
Graham stood.
Before leaving, he turned toward me.
“Jenna, you should think carefully about what happens if this investigation becomes public. Your father has guaranteed substantial debt. Your sister may lose her career. A great many people could suffer because of a misunderstanding.””
My attorney stood as well.
“Mr. Pike, please direct any further communication to counsel. Ms. Bennett will not discuss financial matters with you privately.””
Graham smiled thinly.
“Of course.””
He walked out.
The door closed behind him.
I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding.
“He was trying to intimidate me.””
“Yes,” Rebecca said.
“And you did the right thing by not engaging.””
Silas remained standing beside the table, staring at the closed door.
“Graham has worked with us for years. I recommended him for the consulting position because I trusted him.””
“You couldn't have known what he was doing,” I said.
“Perhaps not. But trust is not a substitute for oversight.””
He turned toward Priya.
“Restrict his access to company systems immediately, preserve every relevant record, and make sure the investigation is independent of anyone who reported to him.””
Priya nodded and left to carry out the instructions.
Then Silas looked at me.
“Jenna, I owe you an apology. Not for your sister's behavior—that was her responsibility—but because your personal information was apparently used within a system we should have protected better.””
I studied him.
“Will the company help establish what happened to my identity?””
“Yes. We'll cooperate with your attorney and any appropriate authorities. But I don't want you to mistake that cooperation for a promise about the outcome.””
“That's fair.””
Rebecca gathered our papers.
“We should arrange for the suspected forgery to be formally reported and make sure the lender receives notice that the guarantee is disputed.””
Silas nodded.
“Whatever documentation the company can lawfully provide, we will.””
For the first time in days, I felt a cautious sense of relief.
The investigation was finally moving beyond accusations and toward evidence.
Then Claire hurried back into the room.
“Mr. Montgomery, we have a problem.””
Silas turned.
“What is it?””
“Graham's legal representative has just sent us a document claiming that you personally approved the disputed repayment entry.””
Silas's face went still.
“That is impossible.””
Claire placed a printed email on the table.
It carried his name, his corporate account address, and an electronic approval timestamp.
Below the message was a sentence authorizing the repayment entry to be recorded as complete.
I looked at Silas.
“Did you send this?””
“No.””
Martin examined the document carefully.
“Do we have the original message and server logs?””
“IT is retrieving them now,” Claire replied.
Silas stared at the page.
“If that email is fabricated, someone used my credentials or created a false record in my name.””
My phone vibrated.
A message from Felicity appeared.
Graham just called me. He says if I tell the investigators what happened, he'll release documents proving Silas knew about the missing money.
A second message followed.
He says Silas will take the fall, and I'll be the only one left to blame.
I showed the screen to Rebecca.
She read the messages, then looked toward Silas.
“This could be an attempt to pressure your sister into silence, but we need to preserve the original messages and verify the circumstances.””
Silas nodded.
“Tell Felicity not to delete anything and not to respond to Graham. Her attorney can arrange a formal interview.””
I typed the instruction and sent it.
Then I looked again at the alleged approval email.
If someone had forged Silas's authorization, the investigation had just taken another turn.
But if the email was genuine, the consequences would be enormous.
Silas Montgomery was no longer simply the CEO who had defended me at a wedding.
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He was now a person whose own name appeared on a disputed financial transaction.
And somewhere in the company's records was the evidence that would determine whether he had been deceived—or whether he had known far more than anyone realized.
