Chapter 15 - LUCY’S DECISION
Lucy returned to her forensic accounting work.
Her employer offered her a senior position because of the Cardenas case.
She refused.
“I do not want a promotion based on my mother’s inheritance.”
Instead, she joined an organization investigating wage theft and benefit fraud.
Her first major case involved agricultural workers employed by a former Cardenas contractor.
The contractor had withheld medical reimbursements for injured laborers.
Lucy found the missing money in three weeks.
Teresa watched her present the case to the company board.
“You sound like Arthur,” Teresa said afterward.
Lucy looked offended.
“I am younger.”
“You also use more charts.”
“That is because charts frighten dishonest men.”
Lucy proposed creating a permanent employee-protection division inside Cardenas Consolidated.
The division would report to an independent committee.
Teresa approved the proposal after reading every page.
Lucy noticed.
“You still read the footnotes.”
“Especially the footnotes.”
The division recovered millions for employees during its first two years.
Manuel’s hidden medical-fund evidence became the beginning of a larger reform.
Teresa sometimes wondered what Isabel would think of the fortune.
She believed her mother would distrust it.
Then she looked at the workers receiving medical care, fair pensions, and legal support.
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Money could be a weapon.
It could also become repair when placed under limits.
