Part 2: The Name on the Phone
I knew exactly which one.
It held confidential briefing materials from my employer, Harrington Capital.
The documents concerned a proposed acquisition that hadn’t been announced publicly.
The portfolio was supposed to be secured inside a locked case.
But when officers recovered it, the case was open.
Before I could fully process that information, someone began pounding on my front door.
Mom, Dad, and Aunt Melissa were standing outside.
Mom stormed in.
“You had your own sister arrested!”
“I reported my missing car.”
“She was borrowing it!”
“Borrowing requires permission.”
Dad stepped forward.
“Daniel, tell the police this was a misunderstanding.”
“It wasn’t.”
Mom’s face reddened.
“Ryan walked away after seeing Ashley questioned by police! You’ve completely humiliated her!”
I stared at her.
My sister had taken my expensive car, damaged it, and potentially accessed confidential business information.
Yet Mom’s biggest concern was Ashley’s failed date.
Then my phone rang again.
Officer Bradley.
I put him on speaker.
“Mr. Mercer, your sister has admitted opening the portfolio and photographing several pages.”
The room went silent.
Mom looked down.
“She’s always been curious,” she whispered.
I turned toward her.
“You knew?”
She didn’t answer.
Officer Bradley continued.
“Ashley also admitted sending at least one photograph to another person.”
When he told me the recipient’s name, my father’s expression changed completely.
Marcus Vale.
A former employee of the development company where Dad had worked for almost twenty years.
Marcus had been dismissed after an internal investigation involving confidential business bids.
Dad had once warned me to avoid discussing financial matters around him.
And now my sister had sent him documents from my employer.
At the police station, Ashley eventually admitted what happened.
While searching my office for the BMW key, she’d noticed the leather portfolio.
She opened it, recognized a company name Marcus had mentioned, and photographed several pages.
Why?
Because Marcus had promised to introduce her to Ryan Caldwell.
The expensive Christmas date she’d been so desperate to impress had been arranged through Marcus.
In exchange for the introduction, she’d sent him information she didn’t understand.
I felt sick.
What began as an unauthorized joyride had become a serious business matter.
Harrington Capital’s legal department contacted the authorities, and the proposed acquisition had to be reviewed.
Thankfully, my home security footage and travel records helped establish that I hadn’t authorized Ashley’s actions.
Later that evening, Mom brought Ashley back to my house.
My sister climbed out wearing the same red dress, her makeup streaked from crying.
“You ruined my life!” she shouted.
I looked at her calmly.
“No, Ashley. You took my car and photographed confidential documents.”
Mom stepped forward.
“Daniel, enough!”
I shook my head.
“No.”
She blinked.
I rarely refused her demands so directly.
But that Christmas, something had changed.
I handed Mom an envelope.
Inside was a formal letter withdrawing the informal permission she’d had to access my home.
