And before he had spoken more than a few words, they had already decided what kind of man stood in front of them.
Brandon had learned not to react too quickly.
His father had taught him that.
Never let another man's assumption decide your behavior.
Gerald had said it many times.
Brandon could still hear his voice.
So he remained calm.
"Can you verify the check?" he asked.
Sarah looked at him.
"Of course."
"Then let's do that."
She turned to her computer.
A few seconds passed.
Then she picked up the phone.
"Compliance?"
Brandon watched.
Sarah spoke quietly.
"Yes. I have a large negotiable instrument here."
She glanced at him.
"Ten million."
The person on the other end asked something.
Sarah looked at the documents.
"Individual customer."
Another question.
She hesitated.
"Yes. He's claiming proceeds from a corporate acquisition."
Brandon heard the phrase.
He's claiming.
Not the customer has provided evidence.
Not the customer has presented an acquisition check.
He's claiming.
Sarah continued talking.
Then she hung up.
She looked at Brandon.
"We're going to need additional verification."
"That's reasonable."
"There's a private office available."
Brandon nodded.
"All right."
Sarah stood.
Then she paused.
"Before we go anywhere, I need to ask you something."
"Sure."
"Are you certain this transaction is legitimate?"
Brandon looked at her.
The question was almost absurd.
Yet he answered politely.
"Yes."
Sarah smiled faintly.
"Because ten million dollars is not something we see every day."
Brandon looked down at his father's briefcase.
"No."
He closed it.
"It isn't."
The Questions Became Accusations
The private office was smaller than Brandon expected.
There was a desk.
Two chairs.
A printer.
A framed photograph of the Philadelphia skyline.
Sarah sat behind the desk.
Brandon sat across from her.
The door remained open.
That was probably deliberate.
He noticed several employees passing by.
One of them glanced through the doorway.
Then another.
Brandon placed his hands on his briefcase.
Sarah opened a folder.
"Let's start over."
"All right."
"Your name is Brandon Coleman."
"Yes."
"Forty-two years old."
"Correct."
"Address?"
He gave it.
"Occupation?"
"Former CEO of Coleman Software."
"Former."
"The company was acquired."
"When?"
"Last Friday."
Sarah wrote something down.
"Premier Logistics acquired the entire company?"
"Yes."
"For how much?"
Brandon looked at her.
"The total transaction value was considerably higher than the amount represented by this check."
Sarah stopped writing.
"So this is only part of the proceeds?"
"Correct."
"And the remaining amount?"
"Transferred to other accounts."
"At this bank?"
"Some of it."
Sarah looked at him.
"Which branch?"
Brandon gave the location.
Sarah typed again.
She looked at the screen.
Something seemed to surprise her.
Brandon noticed.
"What is it?"
"Nothing."
But it wasn't nothing.
Sarah's fingers moved faster.
She opened another screen.
Then another.
Finally she looked at him.
"How much money do you currently maintain with First Heritage?"
Brandon answered honestly.
"Approximately two million."
Sarah stared.
"Two million?"
"Approximately."
"Personal?"
"Some personal. Some corporate."
She looked at the old briefcase.
Then back at him.
The contrast was almost comical.
A man carrying a battered leather case was sitting across from her claiming millions in assets.
Sarah leaned back.
"Mr. Coleman, I'm going to be candid."
"Please."
"This transaction raises several concerns."
"I understand."
"Your account history doesn't reflect this kind of activity."
"It didn't exist until now."
"That's not what I mean."
Brandon waited.
Sarah lowered her voice.
"We see a lot of fraudulent checks."
"So verify mine."
"We will."
"Good."
"And sometimes people use legitimate business documents to create the appearance of legitimacy."
Brandon looked at her.
"Are you accusing me of fraud?"
Sarah paused.
"I'm saying we have to consider every possibility."
"That's fair."
"But your explanation is unusual."
"What explanation would you prefer?"
Sarah's face tightened.
"I'm not trying to insult you."
"I didn't say you were."
She looked away.
Brandon remained silent.
Sarah picked up the check again.
"Why would Premier Logistics issue this to you personally?"
"Because the agreement allocated part of the consideration directly to me."
"Can you prove that?"
"Yes."
He opened the folder.
He pointed to a section.
Sarah read it.
Her expression changed again.
The agreement was clear.
Brandon was listed as the founder and controlling shareholder.
The acquisition payment schedule was detailed.
The ten-million-dollar amount was specified.
There was even a signature from Premier Logistics' chief financial officer.
Sarah's eyes moved over the page.
"Do you have a contact number?"
"Yes."
"For the CFO?"
"Yes."
She took the number.
"I'll verify independently."
"Please do."
She picked up the phone.
Brandon waited.
Ten minutes passed.
Sarah made several calls.
The first went to Premier Logistics.
The second went to First Heritage's regional fraud department.
The third went to someone in the bank's legal department.
Each time, she glanced toward Brandon.
Eventually, a young bank employee entered.
He was perhaps twenty-six.
Dark hair.
Thin glasses.
His name badge said:
DAVID PARK — CLIENT SERVICES
Sarah looked at him.
"David, can you pull up Mr. Coleman's account history?"
David glanced at Brandon.
"Sure."
He sat at the computer.
Brandon watched him work.
A minute later, David turned.
"Mr. Coleman has been a customer for three years."
Sarah nodded.
"Any unusual activity?"
David hesitated.
"No."
"Any overdrafts?"
"No."
"Returned checks?"
"No."
"Suspicious transactions?"
"No."
Sarah looked irritated.
"What about the account balance?"
David looked at the screen.
Then at Sarah.
"His business account has maintained a substantial balance."
"How substantial?"
David hesitated.
"High six figures."
Sarah looked surprised.
"You're sure?"
"Yes."
"And the personal account?"
"Low seven figures."
The room became quiet.
Sarah looked at Brandon.
He said nothing.
David continued.
"There are also investment accounts connected to the customer profile."
Sarah stared.
"Why wasn't I aware of those?"
David shrugged.
"Different department."
Sarah closed the folder.
"Thank you."
David left.
Brandon remained seated.
Sarah folded her hands.
"Mr. Coleman."
"Yes?"
"Why didn't you tell me you had substantial assets with First Heritage?"