Page 24 of Park Avenue Princess

After all, isn’t that what he’s going to do?

Once back inside I settle into a vacant meeting room, open my laptop, and begin to scan the emails. There are several with attachments, and as I begin to read the first email from Dennis, he’s requesting I look over the documents dealing with a wealth fund as well as a retirement fund tied to the Comptroller’s office. They control the city’s five public pension funds, which includes NYC employees, police, fire, and teachers. I begin to download the attachments and among them is a spreadsheet from the Department of Finance (DOF).

What the heck is going on? And why would my father’s accounting firm have this information?

“Read the emails and you’ll soon find out,” I mumble to myself.

If I were at my place, I could pull up the attachments while also reading the emails since I have dual monitors. Seeing as I’m not at my place, I get right to reading, figuring I’ll study the documents later. It doesn’t take long however, to realize I’m going to need a lot more time and a whole lot more privacy while doing so.

What are you mixed up in now, Dad?

Dennis, who came to my father’s firm only two years before I came on board and brought twenty years of experience, received inquiries about a wealth fund of which he had no knowledge. When he tried to find answers, he came across interesting yet sparse discoveries. Interesting in the fact that the wealth fund has no tie-in to the financial market; it looks more like a private savings account. Also, contributions to the fund match discrepancies found within the DOF as noted on the spreadsheet.Coincidence?

“Unlikely.”

As Dennis began to dig for more information, my father became aware of his research and told him he’d handle it. That it was nothing for him to be concerned with.

Suddenly all the information disappeared from the firm’s system.

If Dad didn’t want anyone knowing about this, why was there any information on the firm’s computers to begin with?

Forgetting all about the idea of heading back to my place for more privacy, I search through the documents, looking for dates; a timeline. When I see this process began two years ago, after I’d been gone from my father’s firm four years already, I sigh with relief knowing it wasn’t happening right under my nose.

Since I’ve only been contracting with Management & Budget for eight months, at the start of the fiscal year, which began last October, this was also before my time with the city. During those eight months, I find it interesting that all transactions were squeaky-clean, as I hadn’t uncovered anything resembling fraudulent use of city funds.

That is until recently. Giving the spreadsheets another cursory glance, I see the latest shifting of funds occurred just last week.

The hundred grand with the Department of Buildings and three hundred grand with the Department of Design and Construction!

Damn, so many freaking entities!

Definitely more to investigate.

I pull out my phone and attempt to contact Dennis. I start directly with his cell, knowing he always keeps it on his person pretty much day and night. He had taken over many of my responsibilities and clients, and had always been a trusted employee of Dad’s. Part of me was surprised he hadn’t made a bid for partnership, but then, my father always liked complete control. Apparently this is a perfect example of why.

Dennis’s voice sounds off in my ear. “Lynne. I take it you’ve finally looked over those emails and documents?”

“Yes. Are you still at the firm?”

“I am. After brushing this off, Terrence gave me a folder of new clients to work on, obviously trying to keep me busy, hoping I’d forget all about whatever this is he’s involved in.”

“Jesus Christ, what has gotten into him?” Cringing at my words, I apologize to Dennis.

“It’s okay.” He actually lets out a small chuckle. “But Lynne, this looks like a serious situation. Corruption? Embezzlement? And how did your father get involved?”

“I’ve pretty much concluded the same but need more time to study these documents and the trail of money. And I need to find out more about those two accounts, like who’s contributing as well as benefiting. Who inquired about this?”

“Vince Carmichael, Vice-Chair of the Department of City Planning. Once he realized I had no clue what he was talking about, he quickly started back-tracking, asking that Terrence get back to him ASAP. The reason I sent you this was so you’d have a heads-up rather than uncovering it by way of your audit with the city. There certainly could be other divisions within the city government involved, but as you can see, the information was limited. If there were any other records, they’ve been blocked or removed. Your father is constantly changing task assignments, I suppose so this wouldn’t be uncovered.”

“Damn. I was just thinking to myself if he didn’t want this uncovered, why the hell would the information be at the firm? How in the world does my father expect to explain this away?”

“I honestly have no idea. He obviously contacted you and wants to talk.”

I glance up at the room’s door, hearing voices just outside. “Yes, I’m heading to the office today at four. Until then, I’m going to do some more digging. Since I’m working on the second quarter assessment, I’ll have access to certain information.” The voices move on and I breathe out a sigh of relief. “Dennis, I need to go. I’m in an empty meeting room at City Hall, but I want more privacy. I’m going to head to my place.”

I hear his inhale then a sigh of exhale. “I’m sorry for putting you right in the middle of this. I wasn’t going to bring this to you, but thought it may be easier finding out this way rather than being caught by surprise.”

“Don’t you worry about me. You of all people know the history and tenuous relationship between me and my father. And just because he’s blood doesn’t mean I won’t hesitate to bring this to light and stop the bleeding of city funds, or whatever else may be happening.”

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