Chapter 16--The press conference
988 Words
*CHAPTER 16: THE PRESS CONFERENCE*
---
*8:30 AM. July 7. Hotel Conference Room*
The room smelled like old carpet and coffee.
20 chairs.
3 reporters.
1 camera from the local news.
Not CNN.
Not the press I imagined.
But it was a start.
Anderson was pacing.
Grey suit.
Laptop open.
Red USB on the table next to it.
“You sure about this?” he asked.
“For the 5th time,” I said. “Yes.”
My phone was in my hand.
Mom: `I’m at Aunt Rosa’s. Doors locked. Be safe.`
Good.
Peterson had until 9 AM to find us.
After that, the truth would be everywhere.
---
*9:00 AM. We Go Live*
Anderson tapped the mic.
Feedback screeched.
“Good morning,” he said.
“My name is James Anderson.
This is Linda.
And for the last 6 years, Peterson Holdings has been laundering money through their cafés.”[LastName]
He clicked.
The screen behind us lit up.
Bank statements.
Wire transfers.
Geneva accounts.
`14.7 Million`
The 3 reporters sat up.
“Here is proof,” Anderson said.
He held up the red USB.
“Account numbers. Dates. Names.
All authorized by Peterson Holdings.”
Flash.
Photo.
“Where did you get this?” one reporter asked.
“My father,” I said.
Voice steady.
“My father, Parker, was an external auditor for Peterson Holdings.
He found this.
And he died for it.”[LastName]
Silence.
Then:
“Do you have proof he was killed?”
“Not yet,” Anderson said. “But we have proof he was terminated 2 weeks before a car accident.
And we have proof Peterson knew about the audit.”
Another click.
Voicemail audio played.
Parker’s voice:
`The money goes to someone called M... Don’t let them get this.`
The room got quiet.
---
*9:12 AM. Peterson Arrives*
The doors slammed open.
Peterson.
Victor.
Two other men in suits.
“Stop this,” Peterson said.
“This is defamation.
That USB is stolen company property.”
Anderson didn’t look at him.
“This is a press conference,” he said.
“You’re welcome to sit.”
Peterson laughed.
“You think anyone will believe you?
She’s a barista.
You’re a disgraced ex-employee.”
He pointed at me.
“Give me the USB, Linda.
Right now.
Or I will sue you into the ground.”
I stood up.
“I’m not giving you anything,” I said.
“My father hid this in Booth 7.
Your café.
For 6 years.
Because he was scared of you.”
Peterson’s face went red.
“Arrest her,” he told Victor.
Victor moved forward.
And the doors opened again.
---
*9:15 AM. The Police*
4 officers.
Uniforms.
Not local.
“Mr. Peterson,” the lead officer said.
“Detective Harris. Financial Crimes Unit.
We need to talk about account CH-489201.”
Peterson froze.
“How did you—”
“Anonymous tip,” Harris said.
“With documents. And a USB.”
Anderson smiled.
Small.
He’d made a copy.
Last night.
Mailed it.
“Mr. Peterson,” Harris said. “You’re coming with us.”
Victor reached for his jacket.
The officer’s hand went to his gun.
“Don’t.”
Peterson looked at me.
At the red USB.
At Anderson.
“You have no idea who you’re dealing with,” he said.
“M won’t let this go.”
“Then let M come,” Anderson said.
They cuffed him.
Walked him out.
The reporters were already typing.
---
*9:45 AM. After*
The room was empty except for us and Detective Harris.
“You did good,” Harris said.
“But this isn’t over.
Peterson is mid-level.
We need M.”
“M,” I said. “That’s all we have.”
“We’ll find them,” Harris said.
“In the meantime, you and your mom need protection.”
“We have a safehouse,” Anderson said.
Harris nodded.
“I’ll assign two officers.
And Ms. — you did the right thing.”[LastName]
He left.
---
*10:00 AM. Outside*
News vans were already here.
Headlines on phones:
`BARISTA EXPOSES 14.7 MILLION LAUNDERING SCHEME`
`PETerson HOLDINGS CEO ARRESTED`
`DAUGHTER OF WHISTLEBLOWER SPEAKS OUT`
My hands were shaking.
Anderson put his arm around me.
Not romantic.
Like family.
“It’s done,” he said.
“The first part.”
“What’s the second part?”
“Find M,” he said.
“And finish what Parker started.”
My phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
`You think you won.`
`M says hello.`
`Check the news in 1 hour.`
A link.
I clicked.
*BREAKING: Peterson Holdings Files for Bankruptcy*
*All assets frozen. Geneva accounts emptied.*
Gone.
14.7 million.
Gone.
Anderson cursed.
“M got to it first,” he said.
---
*11:00 PM. My Room*
The news was everywhere.
My name.
Parker’s name.
Booth 7.
Mom was safe.
With officers outside.
I sat on my bed.
The decoy USB on my desk.
The real one was with the police now.
But in my palm: a folded paper.
From the red USB case.
I hadn’t seen it before.
Parker’s handwriting.
`Linda,`
`If you’re reading this, you made it.`
`One last thing. Check the initials.`
`M is not a person.`
`M is a company.`
`— Dad`
My blood went cold.
Not a person.
A company.
I grabbed my laptop.
Typed: `M Company Peterson Holdings`
The first result:
*MERCER GLOBAL GROUP*
*Parent Company of Peterson Holdings*
Anderson called.
“Did you see it?” he asked.
“Yes,” I said.
“M is Mercer.”
Silence.
“Then this is bigger than we thought,” Anderson said.
“And Linda?
They know we know now.”
My phone buzzed again.
New text.
Unknown number.
`9 AM. Booth 7.`
`Final meeting. Bring the notebook.`
`Or we bury Parker for good.`
They wanted Parker’s notebook.
The one from the safety deposit box.
I looked at it on my desk.
- Writer
