Chapter 5 - The Ledger of River North
Within ten minutes, the restaurant's patrons were quietly escorted out through the rear exit under Marco’s supervision, leaving only David, Emily, Rory, and Vincent’s security detail inside the locked bistro.
David was made to sit in the center of the room while Marco retrieved the primary financial ledgers from the back office safe.
Vincent sat opposite him, resting his arms on the table.
"You've been skimming wages from six different employees over the last year, David," Vincent said, reviewing the internal bank statements Marco handed him. "Over two hundred thousand dollars stolen from working mothers and dishwashers to finance your luxury vehicles."
"I was going to pay them back!" David pleaded, sweat dripping down his forehead onto his light-gray suit collar. "The restaurant was facing cash flow issues! I had debts to settle with the waterfront suppliers!"
Vincent leaned forward, bringing his face close to David’s. "You owe debts to me, David. You lease this building from my holding company. And under my roof, no man starves a child to pay for a sports car."
David gasped as Marco stepped behind his chair, securing his hands.
Vincent turned to Emily, who was holding Rory tightly in a corner booth. "Miss Carter, how much does he owe you in back wages?"
"Fourteen thousand dollars," Emily whispered, her voice shaking.
Vincent nodded once. He reached into his jacket pocket, pulled out a heavy black leather checkbook, and wrote a figure on the slip before tearing it out.
May you like
He walked over and placed it gently in Emily’s hand.
It was a cashier's check for fifty thousand dollars.
