Chapter 6 - DAVID’S VERSIONDavid finally gave his formal statement.
He did not deny the cards anymore.
He minimized.
Marcus created the system.
David merely helped recover “abandoned payroll.”
Vincent’s attorney stared.
“Abandoned?”
David claimed workers often disappeared.
Quit without notice.
Changed addresses.
Failed to collect final checks.
Marcus allegedly discovered unused payroll balances sitting on cards.
David believed they would eventually be returned to corporate.
Instead Marcus skimmed.
Then why did Sterling Events receive money?
“Referral commissions.”
Why text:
Got three more. Run slowly.
David said they were discussing event clients.
Investigators laughed later.
Not during interview.
Professionalism.
Then Leah’s name.
David admitted he knew her wages were rerouted.
His explanation:
“Her direct deposit failed.”
It had not.
“Marcus told me card conversion was fastest.”
Without Leah’s consent?
David paused.
“He said employee authorization could be updated later.”
Did David know money was being withdrawn?
“I suspected.”
Did he receive some?
“Not Leah’s specifically.”
A careful answer.
Meaning probably some others.
David’s lawyer ended the interview.
Vincent watched the recording later.
No shouting.
No remorse.
Only calculation.
Then David said something that interested Vincent.
“I was under impossible labor targets.”
“What does that have to do with stolen wages?” Celeste asked.
David explained.
Regional operations demanded labor costs below twenty-six percent.
If restaurants exceeded, managers lost bonuses.
Employees worked overtime.
Kane House routinely exceeded target because wealthy diners expected high service.
David adjusted time.
Tips.
Staffing.
Then Marcus offered a way to make payroll “cleaner.”
The card theft was separate, he insisted.
But the culture made it easier.
Vincent paused the video.
“Who set twenty-six percent?”
Finance report.
Regional director:
Calder Wynn.
Vincent knew him well.
Fifty-six.
Executive vice president of hospitality operations.
Calder had presented those targets personally.
Vincent approved them.
Celeste noticed Vincent’s face.
“There it is.”
“What?”
“Your part.”
Vincent bristled.
“I did not approve stealing wages.”
“No.”
She remained calm.
“You approved an aggressive target.”
“Not illegal behavior.”
“Correct.”
“But if managers repeatedly told you it was unrealistic?”
Vincent stopped.
Had they?
Calder often said:
“Some locations are struggling with discipline.”
David once complained about overtime during a quarterly meeting.
Vincent answered:
“Then manage it.”
Two words.
Manage it.
He did not say falsify hours.
He did not say steal.
But he also did not ask what “manage” required.
Another uncomfortable truth.
David’s greed was his own.
Marcus’s fraud was his own.
But pressure flowed downward.
People chose what to do with it.
Vincent needed to understand both.
May you like
Not to excuse David.
To prevent another David.
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