Chapter 8 - The first strange invoice
One invoice charged:
$84,600
for emergency climate-controlled storage supporting a readiness exercise.
Dates:
May 3 through May 17.
I knew that period.
Ryan and I had been in Charleston for his cousin’s wedding during part of it.
That meant nothing by itself.
Companies operate without owners.
Then I looked at the storage facility address.
It belonged to:
Carter Heritage Properties LLC.
Evelyn’s company.
I stared at the screen.
I knew she owned rental real estate.
I did not know she was leasing industrial space to Ryan’s company for military support.
Again:
Potentially legal.
Related-party transactions require disclosure.
I searched the vendor file.
Nothing.
No Evelyn.
No related-party declaration.
No Carter Heritage.
I emailed Ryan:
Is your mother financially connected to the warehouse on the May readiness invoice?
He called immediately.
Not replied.
Called.
May you like
“Why are you looking at that?”
That was the wrong answer.
