Chapter 4: The Son Who Controlled the Cameras
“Your son?””
James Mitchell's question hung in the air.
Arthur Whitmore didn't answer immediately.
He stood beneath the crystal chandelier, holding his phone in one hand while the sounds of the lobby slowly returned around him. Guests continued checking in. Suitcases rolled across the marble floor. Somewhere near the lounge, a coffee machine hissed.
But Arthur heard none of it.
His thoughts were somewhere else.
His son, Edward Whitmore, was thirty-four years old. He had been given a senior executive position at Sterling Hospitality Group five years earlier, despite having almost no experience in hotel management.
Arthur had hoped the responsibility would make him mature.
Instead, Edward had become increasingly secretive.
“James,” Arthur said quietly, “when was the footage deleted?””
“Approximately twelve minutes ago.””
“And Richard was still here?””
“Yes.””
Arthur looked toward the elevators.
“Then find out whether Richard contacted Edward before leaving.””
James immediately called the security director.
Daniel stood nearby, still holding the business card Arthur had given him.
“Sir,” Daniel said cautiously, “could there be another explanation?””
Arthur turned toward him.
“I hope there is.””
James ended the call.
“Security says the deletion command came from the executive office terminal. Someone accessed the system remotely using Mr. Whitmore's authorization credentials.””
Arthur's expression hardened.
“Get the access logs.””
“Already requested.””
“Now.””
James nodded and walked toward the office corridor.
Daniel hesitated.
“Mr. Whitmore?””
“Yes, Daniel?””
“Can I ask you something?””
“Of course.””
“Why would your son help a manager who was stealing from your company?””
Arthur looked at the young receptionist for a long moment.
“Because sometimes people protect each other for reasons that have nothing to do with loyalty.””
He slipped his phone into his pocket.
“And sometimes the person you trust most is the one who knows exactly where to hurt you.””
Twenty minutes later, Arthur sat in the hotel's executive conference room.
Daniel had been invited to stay.
Vanessa was there too, along with the security director, a nervous-looking man named Peter Lawson.
James stood beside a large television displaying the hotel's security dashboard.
“Mr. Whitmore,” Peter began, “the deleted footage covered the reception area from 2:10 p.m. to 2:35 p.m.””
Arthur leaned back.
“Convenient.””
Peter nodded.
“Yes, sir. That includes the incident involving Mr. Carter and Mr. Collins.””
Daniel looked at the screen.
“Does that mean nobody can recover it?””
“Not necessarily,” Peter replied.
“The system creates automatic backup files every thirty minutes. However, the primary recording was overwritten.””
James frowned.
“Can we retrieve the backup?””
“We're trying.””
Arthur looked at him.
“Try harder.””
Peter swallowed.
“Yes, sir.””
A knock interrupted the meeting.
The door opened.
A young woman in a gray business suit entered, carrying a tablet.
“Mr. Mitchell, there's someone downstairs asking to see Mr. Whitmore.””
Arthur frowned.
“Who?””
The woman glanced at her screen.
“Mr. Edward Whitmore.””
Silence.
James looked at Arthur.
“Did you invite him?””
“No.””
Arthur slowly stood.
“Bring him up.””
Edward entered the conference room three minutes later.
He was tall, clean-shaven, and impeccably dressed in a dark designer suit. A gold watch sat beneath his shirt cuff.
Unlike his father, Edward had never been comfortable in ordinary surroundings.
His eyes immediately settled on Daniel.
“What's he doing here?””
Daniel lowered his gaze.
Arthur answered before anyone else could.
“He's attending this meeting.””
Edward gave a short laugh.
“Since when do receptionists attend executive meetings?””
“Since they become witnesses to something important.””
Edward pulled out a chair.
“Dad, I heard there was a problem with Richard. I can handle it.””
Arthur studied him.
“Can you?””
“Of course. Richard has always been difficult, but he's useful. We shouldn't make decisions based on one disagreement.””
“One disagreement?””
Edward sighed.
“Fine. Maybe he was too harsh with the receptionist.””
Daniel looked up.
Edward continued.
“But we have bigger problems than one employee's feelings.””
Arthur placed both hands on the table.
“Who deleted the security footage?””
Edward blinked.
“What?””
“The footage from the lobby. Who deleted it?””
Edward leaned back.
“I don't know anything about that.””
James opened a folder.
“The system shows your executive authorization credentials were used.””
Edward shrugged.
“Someone must have stolen them.””
Arthur's eyes narrowed.
“Who has access to your credentials?””
“Several people.””
“Names.””
Edward looked annoyed.
“Dad, this is ridiculous. You're treating me like a criminal.””
Arthur didn't raise his voice.
“Then answer the questions.””
For several seconds, Edward said nothing.
Then he turned toward James.
“Can we talk privately?””
“No,” Arthur replied.
Edward's jaw tightened.
“Fine.””
He stood.
“Do whatever you want. But don't expect me to stay and watch you destroy this company over a receptionist.””
He headed toward the door.
Just before he reached it, Daniel spoke.
“Mr. Whitmore?””
Edward turned.
“What?””
Daniel hesitated.
“There's something you should know.””
Edward looked impatient.
“What now?””
Daniel took a folded piece of paper from his pocket.
“I found this beside the reception computer before Mr. Collins was escorted away.””
James accepted it.
It was a small printed access notification.
The document showed that the executive office terminal had connected to the hotel security network at 2:18 p.m.
But beneath the connection details was another line.
*USER SESSION: E.WHITMORE*
Arthur slowly looked at his son.
Edward's expression changed.
“That's not mine.””
Arthur remained silent.
Then Daniel noticed something else.
“Sir, there's a second page.””
James unfolded it.
The second page contained a list of files scheduled for deletion.
One of them was not security footage.
It was a financial report.
And its title made James immediately reach for his phone.
*STERLING — UNDISCLOSED TRANSFERS — FINAL AUDIT.*
Arthur stared at the document.
Then he looked at Edward.
“What exactly are you trying to hide?””
Edward didn't answer.
Instead, he looked at Daniel.
May you like
And for the first time, there was no irritation in his eyes.
There was fear.
