The paperwork ended in 4917.
Two digits reversed.
A transcription error.
Or something intentionally made to resemble one.
Rebecca later checked archived records.
The same pattern appeared repeatedly.
A real grant number would be copied, slightly altered and reused.
Sometimes digits were reversed.
Sometimes one character changed.
The fake grants hid among legitimate ones.
Thomas had noticed because he compared serial numbers rather than grant numbers.
And there was another discovery.
The scheme had not primarily been about stealing equipment.
It had been about money.
Mobility Bridge sometimes received donated wheelchairs from manufacturers.
Those chairs cost the foundation nothing.
But someone created invoices claiming the charity had purchased them at full price.
Money left the foundation’s accounts.
The children still received equipment—at least some of the time—so families did not complain.
The nonexistent purchases created room to move funds elsewhere.
Over time, as scrutiny increased, cheaper refurbished equipment began replacing some of the promised new chairs.
