“What?”
Elena turned her screen toward him. “Research came in under budget that year. By over two million dollars.”
Finn’s eyes widened. “But they said?—”
“Budgetary constraints. I know.” Elena was already pulling up the 2019 report. “Let me check the others.”
2019: Research under budget. 2021: Research under budget.
As the realization set in, Elena felt her blood boil. “Every single time David accelerated a timeline, the research division came in under budget. The research teams weren’t spending too much money, Finn. They weren’t even spending the money that had been allocated to them.”
“So the budgetary constraints?—”
“Were complete bullshit. David lied about everything.”
Finn ran his hand through his hair. “But why? Why reduce the budget for the research division? Its expenses are a tiny slice of the entire company’s.”
That was a good question. What would have motivated David to do this? Elena thought back to her dinner with him. He always found a way to bring the conversation back to the money. Elena opened up one of the financial reports again. She scrolled until she found what she was looking for: executive compensation.
Her breath caught in her throat.
“What?” Finn asked.
“David Turner received a $10 million bonus in 2017.”
Finn went still. “How much?”
"$10 million.” Elena pulled up the other reports. “$11.2 million in 2019. $13 million in 2021.”
They both went quiet for a bit as they processed.
“Every year the research was fast-tracked,” Finn said slowly. “David got a massive bonus.”
“It’s not a coincidence.”
“No. It can’t be.”
Adrenaline flooded through her. They were right. David was sabotaging research while he received massive payouts every year.
Finn leaned back against the couch. “We got him, Elena.”
She nodded, but something didn’t feel right. “We’re close. There’s a pattern here we can prove. But we’re missing something.”
“The why.”
Elena nodded. “Why would David benefit from the research division coming in under budget every year? How is his compensation tied to the research budget specifically?” She shook her head. “There’s a piece we haven’t found yet.”
Finn straightened. “We still have a week. We’ll keep digging until have the full picture.”
“Exactly. But we’re right about him. I know we are.”
Finn smiled and stood up, already heading to the kitchen. “I think we’ve earned a beer.”
Probably a bad idea. Add it to the list of bad ideas today. “Agreed.”
Finn returned with two beer bottles and handed her one. The cold beer tasted great after a long day.
“Okay, so I was thinking—” Elena started. “We should start mapping out the presentation. Maybe create a timeline?—”
