Chapter 4 - The Person Behind DerekThe police took the threat seriously.
But there was no number to trace.
Daniel told me not to return home.
I didn't.
Three days later, the private investigator discovered a connection between Derek and a man named Victor Kane.
Victor owned a consulting company.
Derek had been using it to move money.
But Victor wasn't simply a businessman.
He had worked with my father.
Years ago.
My father had fired him.
For fraud.
I stared at the report.
“Why would Derek know him?”
Daniel answered:
“Because Victor approached him.”
“When?”
“Eight months ago.”
“What did he want?”
Daniel slid a photograph across the desk.
Victor and Derek shaking hands.
Behind them was a hotel conference room.
The date was eight months earlier.
“Your father's investment account was already worth millions,” Daniel said.
“And Victor knew.”
“Yes.”
“So Derek didn't create this plan.”
“No.”
“He was recruited.”
“Exactly.”
I looked at the file.
“Why Kayla?”
“Because she was vulnerable.”
I remembered the young woman I had once helped.
Tuition.
Rent.
Food.
A career.
I had thought I was saving her.
Instead, someone had convinced her that destroying me was the fastest way to change her life.
Then another document appeared.
Kayla had received $50,000 from Victor.
Before she ever met Derek.
My stomach turned.
“She was planted.”
Daniel nodded.
“Possibly.”
I remembered the first day I met her.
The tears.
The story about her mother.
The desperate expression.
The helplessness.
It had all seemed so real.
Maybe some of it had been real.
But someone had seen my kindness and turned it into an opening.
That night, I received a message.
From Kayla.
I want to talk. Alone.
I showed Daniel.
“Don't go.”
“I need answers.”
“You can get them through the police.”
But I knew something.
If Kayla was afraid enough to contact me, she might be ready to talk.
So we arranged the meeting in a public place.
Kayla arrived wearing a hood.
She looked terrified.
“Rachel.”
I sat across from her.
“Tell me everything.”
She started crying.
“I didn't know what he was going to do.”
“Who?”
“Derek.”
I stared at her.
“Don't lie.”
“I swear.”
“Then why did you shave my head?”
She looked down.
“Because he told me it was a prank.”
“And the drug?”
“I didn't know.”
“What did you put in the milk?”
“Nothing.”
I froze.
“What?”
“I didn't put anything in it.”
“Then who did?”
She looked around.
Then whispered:
“Victor.”
My heart stopped.
“Victor was there?”
She nodded.
“He came into the house after you fell asleep.”
I stared at her.
“Why?”
“To use your phone.”
“Why didn't you stop him?”
“I was scared.”
“Of Victor?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Kayla's eyes filled with tears.
“Because he told me if I didn't cooperate, he'd destroy my family.”
I leaned forward.
“What exactly did he plan?”
She swallowed.
“He didn't want your money.”
I frowned.
“What?”
“He wanted something else.”
“What?”
May you like
She looked directly at me.
“Your father's research.”
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