The message arrived through an old email address I rarely checked.

He wrote that he wanted to “clear up misunderstandings” and that Dennis was under terrible pressure.

Elaine’s response was immediate: no private meetings, no casual conversations, and no accepting documents without understanding how they were obtained.

Gary replied that he would speak only if I came alone.

I said no.

Later that afternoon, the board’s outside counsel contacted Elaine.

Gary had also approached them, claiming he possessed a set of correcting entries that could explain the apparent overcharges.

He wanted an agreement protecting him from consequences before he surrendered anything.