“We need to trace it,” she finally said.
Dorian nodded and pulled his chair closer to the computer.
“If the code is attached to the procurement records, there should be a record of who created it.” “There should be.” He began searching through the system while Brielle gathered the documents they had found.
She compared the suspicious transactions one after another, looking for anything they might have overlooked.
Then she noticed something.
”Dorian.” He stopped typing.
“What?” She pointed at the screen.”Look at the dates.” He leaned closer.The authorization code had not been used continuously.
There were long gaps between some transactions.
“Why would someone stop using it?” Brielle asked.
“Maybe they weren’t stealing during those periods.” She shook her head.”No.
Look at what happened during the gaps.” Dorian examined the records.There had been changes in management.New suppliers had been introduced.Several employees had been transferred to different departments.And each time the code disappeared, something else changed within the company.
Brielle’s eyes narrowed.
“They were adapting.” Dorian looked at her.
“To what?” “To whoever was watching.” The thought settled heavily between them.Whoever was behind the scheme wasn’t careless.
They had adjusted whenever circumstances changed, making it harder for anyone to notice the pattern.Dorian continued searching.Then the system displayed the name of an employee connected to the authorization code.
He froze.
Brielle immediately noticed.
“What?” Dorian didn’t answer.
“Dorian?” He turned the screen towards her.Brielle read the name.Her expression changed.
“I know him.” Dorian nodded slowly.
“He works in procurement.” She stared at the screen.
“Does he have access to the financial system?” “Not directly.” “Then how is his code appearing on payment records?” Dorian’s eyes narrowed.
“That is exactly what we’re going to find out.” They left the office shortly afterwards.The procurement department was already beginning to fill with employees arriving for work.
Brielle kept her expression calm as they walked through the floor.Dorian stopped in front of the man’s office.He wasn’t there.
“Where is Mr.
Hale?” Dorian asked one of the employees nearby.
“He hasn’t arrived yet.” Dorian glanced at his watch.
“Has he called?” “No.” Brielle looked through the glass door of the office.Everything appeared normal.A computer sat on the desk.
Several folders were arranged neatly beside it.Then she noticed something.
“Dorian.” He followed her gaze.
“There.” She pointed towards a folder on the desk.The label carried the same code they had found in the financial records.Dorian’s expression hardened.He opened the door.Brielle followed him inside.The folder contained procurement documents from several years ago.They went through them carefully.Most of the records looked ordinary.Then Brielle found a supplier agreement.
She frowned.
“This supplier.” “What about them?” “I’ve seen this name before.” Dorian looked at the document.
It was one of the suppliers connected to the suspicious payments.Brielle checked the date.The contract had been approved shortly before one of the old transactions.
“Look at the authorization.” Dorian leaned over.The same code appeared again.
He slowly exhaled.
“This is getting bigger.” Brielle nodded.
They continued searching until they heard footsteps outside.Someone was approaching.
Dorian quickly closed the folder.
The door opened.Mr.
Hale walked in.He stopped the moment he saw them.Then his eyes moved towards the folder on his desk.
“What are you doing here?”Dorian’s voice was calm.
“We need to ask you a few questions.” “About what?” “The authorization code.” The colour in Hale’s face changed.Only slightly.But Brielle noticed.Dorian noticed too.
“What code?” Hale asked.
Brielle stepped forward.
“The one appearing on procurement and payment records.” Hale gave a nervous laugh.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Dorian placed one of the documents on the desk.
“This.” Hale looked at it.His expression tightened.
“I’ve never seen that.” Brielle watched him carefully.
“Then why is your name attached to it?” Hale stared at the document.
“I don’t know.” Dorian stepped closer.
“Who has access to your account?” “No one.” “Are you sure?” “Yes.” “Then how did your credentials authorize these transactions?” Hale said nothing.The silence stretched.Brielle looked around the office.There was something about the room that bothered her.Not the files.Something else.She walked towards the desk and noticed a small notebook partly hidden beneath a folder.She picked it up.Hale immediately stepped forward.
“That’s personal.” Brielle looked at him.
“So why was it hidden?” He reached for it.Dorian stopped him.
“Leave it.” Brielle opened the notebook.Most of the pages contained ordinary notes.
Names.
Dates.
Amounts.
Then she found a page that made her stop.Several supplier names were written there.The same suppliers connected to the suspicious transactions.And beside them were dates.Brielle looked at Dorian.
“These dates.” He took the notebook from her.His expression hardened.They matched the dates of the transactions.Hale’s face had gone pale.
“You’re going to have to explain this,” Dorian said.
“I can explain.” “Then explain.” Hale opened his mouth.Nothing came out.Suddenly, his phone rang.He looked at the screen.His face changed.
Brielle noticed immediately.
“Who is it?” Hale ignored her.The phone stopped ringing.A message appeared.He read it.Then quickly locked the screen.
Dorian held out his hand.
“Give me the phone.” Hale stepped back.
“No.” Dorian’s voice became colder.
“Give it to me.” “I can’t.” “Why?” Hale looked between them.For the first time, genuine fear appeared in his eyes.
“You don’t understand.” Brielle’s stomach tightened.
“Then make us understand.” Hale swallowed.
“They’ll come after me.” The room went silent.Dorian stared at him.
“Who?” Hale looked towards the door.Then back at them.
“I don’t know who they are.” “You expect me to believe that?” “I swear.” “Then how do you know they’ll come after you?” Hale said nothing.Brielle stepped closer.
“You’ve been working here for years.
You’ve seen these transactions.
You’ve seen the code.
You’ve seen the suppliers.
You know something.” Hale’s eyes dropped.
“I didn’t start it.” Dorian’s expression changed.
“Start what?” Hale looked at him.Before he could answer, the lights on the floor suddenly went out.
Again.
Brielle froze.
A second later, every computer screen went black.Then came the sound of a printer.
One page.
Then another.
Then another.
Dorian turned towards the printer.
“What the hell?” Brielle moved closer.The printer continued feeding out documents.Hale stared at them in horror.One of the pages fell to the floor.Brielle picked it up.Her eyes widened.It was a list.
Names.
Employee numbers.
Departments.
And beside each name was the same authorization code.
She looked at Dorian.
“This isn’t just one person.” Dorian took the page from her.His face hardened as he read the names.The code had been used by people across different departments.
Finance.
Procurement.
Administration.
Management.
Someone had been moving through Wolfe Enterprises without using the same identity twice.Then Brielle noticed something at the bottom of the page.There was one final name.Unlike the others, it wasn’t an employee.It was the name of a company.The same company they had found in the old records.The company that was supposed to have disappeared years ago.
Brielle’s heart sank.
“They’re still here.” Dorian looked at her.
And this time, neither of them could pretend the past had anything to do with the present by coincidence.
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