Chapter 3 - THE DEAL BENEATH THE MARKET
Prescott asked Linda to meet him inside a quiet café across from Fairbridge Market.
He chose a corner table away from the windows.
“Desmond has ordered an internal audit,” he explained.
Linda almost laughed.
“Three weeks after firing the person who requested one?”
“He found a financing document carrying his electronic signature.”
“Was it real?”
“No.”
Linda’s anger faded.
The forged document offered Fairbridge Market and the surrounding land as collateral for a private loan worth sixty million dollars.
If Hale Development defaulted, control of the property would transfer to a company called Cresswell Urban Partners.
Linda recognized the name.
One of the fake community-fund consultants shared an address with Cresswell.
“They’re connected.”
Prescott nodded.
“Celeste introduced Cresswell to Desmond last year.”
“What does she want with the market?”
“The land is worth nearly three times its current value if the city approves luxury development.”
Linda looked through the café window.
Fairbridge was crowded with immigrant-owned food stalls, family businesses, flower sellers, mechanics, and farmers.
Toby had learned to read price signs there.
Her late husband had bought her first cup of coffee there.
To Celeste, it was only land.
“Desmond was supposed to tour the market next Saturday,” Prescott continued. “He planned to announce that the redevelopment would be delayed until the audit was complete.”
“Celeste knows?”
“She knows about the announcement. She may not know how much evidence we have.”
Linda opened her purse.
She removed a flash drive.
“I kept a mirror of the renewal-fund ledger.”
Prescott stared at it.
“You told the company all copies were destroyed.”
“I told Celeste that.”
For the first time, the attorney smiled.
Linda had saved automatic backups before her access was revoked.
The files showed that Celeste personally approved several payments through a hidden administrator account.
They also suggested she used a portion of the stolen funds to pay a private security contractor named Owen Rusk.
Prescott knew the name.
Owen supervised Desmond’s drivers, vehicles, and executive protection.
“He has access to every Hale car,” Prescott said.
Linda felt a chill.
“Why would Celeste pay him privately?”
“I intend to find out.”
They agreed Linda would bring the complete files to Prescott during Desmond’s market tour.
The public setting would make it difficult for Celeste to interfere.
Neither of them knew Celeste’s assistant had followed Prescott from the Hale headquarters.
By evening, Celeste had photographs of Linda leaving the café.
She also knew about the flash drive.
That night, Celeste entered Desmond’s home office wearing a silk robe.
She poured him a drink and asked whether he still planned to visit Fairbridge.
“Yes.”
“You should cancel.”
“Why?”
“The market people have become hostile.”
“Because they think I’m taking their businesses.”
“Aren’t you?”
“Not anymore.”
Celeste’s hand stopped above her glass.
Desmond continued.
“I’m announcing an independent audit. No sale. No demolition.”
Her smile returned slowly.
“Then I suppose Saturday will change everything.”
It was not agreement.
It was a promise.
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👉 Celeste had four days to prevent Desmond’s announcement—and Owen Rusk controlled the vehicle that would carry him through the most dangerous curve in the city.
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