Chapter 7 - The Dead Man Who Had Been Controlling Everything
Abigail couldn't speak.
“His father is alive?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“I don't know.”
“Then how do you know?”
“He contacted me.”
“When?”
“Last week.”
“Why?”
“He wanted the trust.”
Abigail sat down.
Everything had been bigger than Bernice.
Bigger than Logan.
Bigger than Richard.
Someone had been controlling them all.
The attorney finally confessed.
Years earlier, Logan's father had staged his own death after being investigated for fraud.
He disappeared.
Bernice knew.
Richard knew.
Logan didn't.
Or at least, that was what the attorney claimed.
The father had created the original network.
Bernice inherited it.
Richard became its enforcer.
Logan became its newest recruit.
And Abigail was supposed to become their biggest target.
Her property.
Her investments.
Her company shares.
Everything would have been transferred through the marriage.
But there was one problem.
Abigail had security cameras.
She had records.
She had evidence.
And now federal investigators had the entire network.
The only person still missing was Logan's father.
His name was Edward Gable.
Investigators began searching for him.
Meanwhile, Logan remained under protection.
He asked to see Abigail.
She agreed.
They sat across from each other.
“I never knew he was alive.”
“I believe you.”
“I should have told you everything.”
“Yes.”
“I don't expect forgiveness.”
“You shouldn't.”
He nodded.
“I understand.”
Then he handed her a key.
“What is this?”
“A storage unit.”
“Where?”
“Cleveland.”
“What's inside?”
“Everything.”
Abigail looked at him.
“Why give it to me?”
“Because I'm done being afraid.”
The storage unit contained ledgers.
Photographs.
Bank records.
Audio recordings.
And a video.
Edward Gable appeared on screen.
He looked directly at the camera.
“If you're watching this, my son has finally betrayed me.”
Abigail stared.
Edward continued.
“Logan was always weak.”
A chill ran through her.
“He wanted a normal life.”
“He wanted love.”
“He wanted to be better than me.”
Edward smiled.
“That made him useful.”
The video ended.
Then another began.
It showed Edward meeting Richard.
They discussed Abigail.
They discussed the wedding.
They discussed the transfer.
Then Edward said:
“She has no idea what she's worth.”
Abigail stared.
Her attorney had said the money was the goal.
But Edward mentioned something else.
Her company.
Her company had recently developed a proprietary technology platform.
It was worth far more than her personal assets.
The wedding wasn't just about money.
They wanted control of her company.
Abigail finally understood.
She had nearly been used as a doorway into an entire business empire.
Then investigators received a location.
Edward had been found.
He was hiding in a coastal town.
Police moved in.
But when they entered the house, he was gone.
Only one thing remained.
A photograph of Abigail.
On the back was written:
You still don't know who helped me.
Abigail stared at the photograph.
May you like
Someone else was involved.
Someone inside her company.
