Friday morning, Rebecca brought me an updated interview schedule.
The independent review team had spoken with several employees.
More interviews were planned.
I read through the notes.
There were no dramatic accusations.
No single document that explained everything.
Instead, there were repeated descriptions of the same problems.
Employees felt ignored.
Supervisors felt pressured.
Questions were treated as personal challenges.
I put the pages down.
"How many people have been interviewed?"
"Eleven so far."
"How many requested confidentiality?"
"Most of them."
I nodded.
"Make sure their identities are protected as far as the process allows."
Rebecca agreed.
A little later, Linda Parker returned to my office.
She looked less nervous than during our first meeting.
She carried a small envelope.
"Mrs. Collins, I brought the information I mentioned."
I invited her to sit.
Rebecca joined us.
Linda opened the envelope.
Inside were copies of several internal records.
"I kept these because I wasn't sure whether the original records would remain accessible."
I examined them.
They included expense references and internal messages relating to certain departmental transactions.
I didn't immediately understand every detail.
But the documents appeared relevant to the questions finance had raised.
"Where did these come from?" Rebecca asked.
"Records I was authorized to handle as part of my work."
"Did you alter anything?"
"No."
"Are these complete copies?"
"Yes, as far as I know."
Rebecca took them carefully.
"We'll verify everything."
Linda nodded.
Then she looked at me.
"I didn't want to cause trouble."
I leaned forward.
"Linda, asking a legitimate question is not causing trouble."
She looked relieved.
"I've worked there a long time. I remember when people could speak openly."
I thought about the early years of the company.
Robert and I had always encouraged employees to tell us when something was wrong.
Sometimes the complaints were uncomfortable.
Sometimes they were mistaken.
But we listened.
A business couldn't improve if everyone was afraid to speak.
"Thank you for bringing this to us," I said.
Linda stood.
"Thank you for listening."
After she left, Rebecca placed the envelope inside the review file.
"These may help clarify the reporting differences."
"Have finance examine them."
"Already arranged."
I spent the rest of the morning reviewing operational reports.
At noon, James joined me.
He had an update about the staffing situation.
"Two supervisors have confirmed their transfer requests."
"Have replacements been identified?"
"We're working on it."
"Don't rush the appointments. I want capable people, not people chosen because they're close to senior management."
James nodded.
We also discussed employee support.
I approved temporary assistance for teams struggling with vacancies.
It was important that the review didn't punish people who had nothing to do with the management problems.
Later that afternoon, Richard sent a message through Rebecca.
He wanted to know when the review would conclude.
Rebecca asked me what to say.
"Tell him we will provide an update when the evidence has been examined."
She sent the response.
I didn't want to turn the investigation into a daily argument.
By late afternoon, I was ready to leave.
Then my phone rang.
It was Vanessa.
I hadn't expected her to call.
"Margaret, hello."
"Hello, Vanessa."
She sounded tense.
"I think we need to talk."
"About what?"
"My father."
I sat down again.
"What about him?"
"He's very upset about what's happening at work."
I waited.
"He says you've made the entire division uncomfortable."
I looked through the glass wall toward the corridor.
"Has he told you why the company is reviewing his division?"
"He says it's because you took something personal."
I remained quiet.
Vanessa continued.
"He's worked there for years. He has done a lot for that company."
"I'm aware of his employment history."
"Then why are you doing this?"
I answered carefully.
"Because there are management concerns that need to be examined."
"Such as?"
"Employee complaints and financial records."
She went silent.
Then she said something that made me understand how little she knew.
"My father would never do anything wrong."
I looked down at the papers on my desk.
"Vanessa, I hope the review establishes that everything was handled correctly."
"So you admit you don't trust him?"
"I trust evidence."
She sighed sharply.
"I just think this is unnecessary."
I didn't respond immediately.
Then I said, "Your father will have every opportunity to explain his decisions."
She ended the call shortly afterward.
I sat quietly.
I wasn't angry with her.
I was concerned about how quickly she had chosen to defend someone without knowing the facts.
When I reached home, Daniel was waiting outside.
He had brought a small box of pastries from a bakery near his office.
"Thought you might like these."
I smiled.
"That's thoughtful."
We went inside.
He told me Vanessa had been speaking with him about the review.
She wanted him to persuade me to stop it.
I listened.
Then I asked him one question.
"Do you think I should stop an investigation because someone is uncomfortable?"
He shook his head.
"No."
"Then you already know what to say."
He nodded.
We shared the pastries at the kitchen table.
For the first time in several days, Daniel smiled.
I was grateful for that small moment.
Click here to continue reading: PART 11: Richard’s Next Explanation Forced the Finance Team to Ask Questions He Could No Longer Answer With Confidence
The Evening My Future Daughter-in-Law’s Father Mistook My Quiet Life for a Reason to Humiliate Me
Part 10 of 24
