Chapter 19 - The File Marked Silver
The flash drive contained hundreds of files.
Most were financial records.
Then we found one folder.
SILVER.
Inside was a single encrypted document.
Caleb worked with the military cybersecurity team to authenticate it.
After six hours, the file opened.
It contained a list.
Names.
Dates.
Payments.
At the bottom was one line:
Unauthorized transfer network — internal and external participants.
My father's signature appeared beneath it.
But then I noticed something.
There were three names I recognized.
One was Martin Hale.
One was Victoria's attorney.
And the third was someone currently serving on the Vance Defense Systems board.
Edward Crane.
I stared at the name.
Crane had been one of the men who welcomed me after my father's death.
He had stood beside me during the probate process.
He had publicly defended my mother's character.
And he had encouraged me to accept a smaller role in the company.
My stomach turned.
“Don't confront him yet,” Caleb said.
“I wasn't going to.”
He looked at me.
“You were.”
I sighed.
“Maybe.”
“We need evidence.”
“I know.”
For the first time, I understood why my father had kept everything secret.
Trust could be more dangerous than money.
The next morning, I called an independent federal auditor.
Not the company auditor.
Not someone loyal to me.
Someone with no reason to protect the Vance name.
I told them everything.
Even the parts that could damage my father.
When the call ended, Caleb took my hand.
“You did the right thing.”
I looked at him.
“What if the investigation proves my father was involved?”
“Then you face it.”
I stared at him.
“Just like that?”
“Yes.”
“What if it destroys everything he built?”
Caleb's eyes softened.
“Then you build something better from the truth.”
I didn't know whether I was ready for that.
But I knew I trusted him.
May you like
And that was enough for one more day.
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