Part 3
The moment I’d been dreading arrived on a Tuesday morning in April. I was reviewing projections when James burst into the conference room with panic in his eyes.
“Ms. Wells,” he said, “there are FBI agents in the lobby asking for you.”
My blood turned to ice water. After two years, I’d thought the investigations were finally over. Apparently someone had connected Katherine Wells, the consultant, to Katherine Wells from the financial scandal.
“Do they have a warrant?” I asked, my voice calmer than I felt.
“I don’t know. Mr. Blackwell is handling it, but they’re insisting on speaking with you.”
I walked to Harrison’s office with the resignation of someone approaching the gallows. Through the glass walls, I saw two agents in dark suits, their faces professionally neutral.
“Ms. Wells,” the older agent said when I entered. “I’m Agent Martinez. This is Agent Foster. We need to discuss your involvement in an ongoing investigation.”
“What investigation?”
“Corporate espionage and financial fraud. We believe you may have information relevant to our case.”
Relief flooded through me. They wanted information, not to arrest me.
“Your son Michael has been cooperating with our investigation,” Agent Foster continued. “He’s provided information about a conspiracy involving multiple financial firms, including your former company.”
“A conspiracy?”
“According to Michael’s statement, someone approached him three years ago with a proposal to destabilize certain consulting firms. The goal was to acquire their client lists and assets at discount prices.”
The room tilted. “Someone approached Michael before the fraud began?”
“A board member of a major corporation who specializes in acquiring distressed companies,” Agent Foster said. “Michael claims this person provided instructions on how to make the fraud look like a family business gone wrong.”
