Chapter 7 - The File Elena Forgot
Daniel found the answer in Elena's old military records.
Eight years earlier, Elena had been assigned to investigate a financial network suspected of moving money through charitable organizations.
The investigation had never reached a conclusion.
The primary civilian contact had disappeared.
His name was Victor Hale.
Elena remembered him now.
Not as her family's adviser.
As a name from an Army intelligence briefing.
That realization changed everything.
Victor hadn't entered the Carter family afterward.
He had entered before.
He had been positioned inside the family because someone had known Elena might eventually discover the network.
Daniel placed the documents on the table.
“Your father's missing money may not have been the original crime.”
Elena frowned.
“What do you mean?”
“He may have discovered the network and tried to move your assets away from it.”
Michael's old ledger supported the theory.
Elena's father hadn't simply protected his money.
He had protected her.
But then why had Evelyn hidden the truth?
Elena returned to the estate and confronted her mother.
“Did Dad know Victor was stealing?”
Evelyn's face changed.
“Yes.”
Elena's heart sank.
“Did you?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
Evelyn's eyes filled with tears.
“Because Victor threatened Sarah.”
Sarah, standing behind Elena, went still.
“What?”
Evelyn explained.
Victor had obtained evidence of Sarah's involvement in several questionable financial transfers.
He threatened to send her to prison if Evelyn exposed him.
“So you protected Sarah by stealing from me?”
Evelyn shook her head.
“I thought I could fix it.”
“You had seventeen years.”
“I kept believing I could.”
Elena stared at her mother.
“Did you know Victor was still taking money?”
Evelyn hesitated.
That hesitation was the answer.
Elena turned away.
Then her phone rang.
Daniel.
His voice was urgent.
“We found Victor's current account.”
Elena stopped.
“Where?”
“Not overseas.”
A pause.
“He's in the city.”
“And he's meeting someone tonight.”
“Who?”
Daniel lowered his voice.
May you like
“Sarah.”
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