Odell opened the first binder. The meeting invitation bore Preston's office signature. The second held still images and exact timestamps from the recordings. The third contained the evolution of Diane's statement. Another held the bank's actual request, which did not accuse Ashworth Capital of fraud. The final binder listed discrepancies between those records and the alarming memo Preston had distributed to directors.
"He used his own words to create every problem," Odell said. "Then he used the existence of the problems to justify staying in power. What we need now is proof of how the bank flag began."
Malik stared at the last folder. "We don't have that."
"Not yet. But we have the date it appeared, the type of concern, and the person who benefited. Bank compliance will trace it for their own reasons. We can ask precise questions and supply our documents. Independent counsel can investigate Preston's contacts."
"You think Diane knows something?"
"I think she knows a great deal about the false statements. Whether she knows about the bank call is another question."
Malik touched the edge of the invitation. "No more private promises."
"Agreed."
"If we get the evidence, it goes to the full board, the lawyers, and the people responsible for verifying it. Not another conversation in Preston's office."
Odell nodded. "In front of everyone who has the authority to act."
Malik looked toward the elevators. He remembered Rachel bursting through the doors and shouting for Curtis to stop. That had been the first moment Preston lost control of the story. But the board had allowed him to regain it by changing the question from what had happened in the lobby to whether his opponent could be trusted.
This time Malik wanted the questions settled one at a time, with the evidence placed beside each answer. He didn't need the loudest speech in the room. He needed the facts laid out so clearly that no one could keep looking away.
"Let's start tonight," he said.
Odell closed the first binder. "That's exactly what I was hoping you'd say."
The following morning, Odell met with Maya Chen and the fund's compliance team on a secure video call. Malik listened while they reviewed the bank's hold for the third time. The original notice was brief and careful. It did not mention a government enforcement action, a criminal investigation, or a finding of fraud. It asked for confirmation of ownership, the origin of several capital commitments, and the relationship between the fund and its investment partners.
Odell highlighted the language Preston had used in his board memorandum.
"See the difference?" he asked.
Maya leaned forward. "The bank describes a verification process. Preston describes formal suspicion. Those are not the same thing."
"Can we get a written clarification?" Malik asked.
"We can request one," Maya said. "And we can ask independent board counsel to obtain the underlying risk notification through proper channels. Our priority is to satisfy the bank's legitimate questions and determine whether the allegation was intentionally false."
They sent a complete package that afternoon. Odell included the independent audit letters, subscription records, ownership chart, funding schedule, compliance certifications, and counsel's verification of the participating investors. He insisted every attachment be identified by its original source and date. The bank acknowledged receipt and assigned a senior officer to the matter.