Sanchez and O’Malley held their first interview in the Satori Institute board room, a large room in the administration suite; the redwood walls were lined with photos of Satori boards past and present, while the west-end overlooked the south campus. Jean Little, the acting president of the board was an energetic middle-aged woman who ran a San-Francisco-based venture capital firm. Overdressed for Satori, Laura thought, as she appraised Little’s expensive pantsuit.
“I’m sorry I can’t help you,” Little said. “Malcolm and our accountant, Bryn Moore, always handled the Institute financial details.”
“I find it unusual that you’ve been on the board for five years, yet you don’t understand the outsized role that license fees play in the Institute’s finances,” O’Malley said.
“You may find it strange,” Little said, “But the reality is that non-profit board members have specialties. Mine is fundraising in Silicon Valley. Until Malcolm’s unfortunate demise, there was no need for me to understand the details of Satori finances.”
“Who else might understand the finances?” Sanchez asked.
“I’m not sure.” Little frowned. “You talked to Bruce James?”
“Yes, and he said only Bryn Moore dealt with the books. And we already talked to Bryn, and he doesn’t understand the license revenue.”
“Have you talked to anyone at Malcolm’s San Francisco office?” Little asked. “Penny might know about this.”
“We didn’t even know there was a San Francisco office,” Sanchez said. “Where is it and who is Penny?”
“The office is on Russian Hill,” Little said. “Penny is my oldest daughter. She runs the office for Malcolm. She knows everything.” Little’s scratched her head. “By the way, did you know the FBI visited Malcolm last week?”
Sanchez shook her head, while O’Malley’s mouth fell open.