Chapter 4 - The Woman Behind the Money Was Closer to Kieran Than Anyone Realized
Evelyn Cross did not look like a criminal.
She looked like a woman who chaired charity boards.
Elegant.
Polished.
Untouchable.
She owned hotels, construction firms, restaurants and shipping companies across the East Coast.
She had once attended Kieran's father's funeral.
She had kissed Kieran on the forehead when he was nineteen.
She had brought flowers when Declan died.
She had even sent Kieran a birthday gift every year.
Claire stared at her photograph.
“She has access.”
Kieran nodded.
“Too much.”
They traced financial transfers.
Millions had moved through legitimate companies.
But one account appeared repeatedly.
The old Walsh trust.
Claire looked at the documents.
“Your father left money behind.”
“Yes.”
“And someone has been using it.”
Kieran's face darkened.
“Can we freeze it?”
“Not yet.”
“Why?”
“Because whoever is moving it wants us to notice the obvious accounts.”
Claire pointed to a line.
“This is the real trail.”
Kieran leaned closer.
She showed him a series of transfers through shell companies.
One name appeared at the end.
Mercer Logistics.
Claire went pale.
“What?”
Kieran looked at her.
“What is it?”
“My father's company.”
Claire sat back.
“You said your father died.”
“He did.”
“He had a logistics company?”
“Yes.”
Claire stared at the screen.
“That company is active.”
Kieran's expression changed.
“Impossible.”
Claire searched deeper.
The registered owner had changed.
Six months after his father's death.
To a woman named Elaine Mercer.
Claire's mother.
Her hands went cold.
Kieran saw it.
“You know her?”
Claire nodded slowly.
“My mother.”
Neither spoke.
Claire's mother had disappeared when Claire was seventeen.
Claire had spent years believing she had abandoned her.
Now her name was attached to millions in hidden accounts.
Claire stood.
“I need air.”
Kieran followed her to the balcony.
“You don't have to do this alone.”
She laughed softly.
“I have done everything alone.”
“Not anymore.”
She turned.
Their eyes met.
For a second, neither moved.
Then Claire looked away.
“I don't know what my mother was involved in.”
“Then we find out.”
They followed the money.
It led to a private clinic.
Then an old motel.
Then a storage company.
And finally, a safe deposit box.
Inside were letters.
Claire read the first one.
Her mother had been investigating Kieran's father.
She had discovered that Victor and Evelyn were laundering money through the Walsh operation.
She had tried to expose them.
Then she vanished.
The last letter was dated twelve years earlier.
Claire read it aloud.
“If Claire ever finds this, tell her I never left because I stopped loving her. I left because staying would get her killed.”
Claire covered her mouth.
Kieran stepped closer.
“You were protecting her all these years.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“She was protecting me.”
At that moment, the lights went out.
Kieran reached for Claire.
A shot cracked through the room.
He pulled her down.
Another shot.
Then another.
They crawled behind a concrete pillar.
Claire whispered.
“Four shooters.”
“How do you know?”
“Different weapons.”
She reached into her coat.
Kieran stared.
“You carry two guns?”
“Three.”
He almost laughed.
Even in the middle of an attack.
“Remind me never to annoy you.”
“You already do.”
They fought their way through the darkness.
By the time the emergency lights returned, three attackers were dead.
The fourth was missing.
Claire found blood leading toward the back stairwell.
Kieran touched her shoulder.
“Don't chase him.”
She looked at him.
“He knows who I am.”
“I know.”
“And now he knows where to find me.”
Kieran looked into her eyes.
“Then he made one mistake.”
May you like
“What?”
“He found you.”
Related Stories
