Chapter 3 - The Secret Her Father Took to the Grave
Caitlyn could not breathe.
“My father?”
Deari nodded.
“His identity was used thirty-one times.”
She stared at the report.
“My father has been dead for six years.”
“I know.”
“He never worked for Hamilton.”
“He did.”
She looked up.
“What?”
Deari explained.
Her father had been employed by his family before Deari took over.
He was a financial auditor.
He had discovered something.
Illegal accounts.
Fake companies.
Hidden payments.
He had threatened to expose them.
Then he died.
Officially, a heart attack.
Unofficially, a murder.
Caitlyn sat.
“You knew?”
“I knew his name.”
“Not me.”
“No.”
“Why did you hire me?”
Deari looked at her.
“Because I knew he trusted you.”
“How?”
“He left a letter.”
She froze.
“A letter?”
Deari took one from the file.
Her father's handwriting.
If anything happens to me, find Caitlyn.
Her hands shook.
“Why?”
“He knew the people who came after him would eventually come for you.”
“But you didn't tell me.”
“You weren't ready.”
“That's not your decision.”
“No.”
He looked ashamed.
“I know.”
She read the letter.
There was another line.
The man who destroys the network will have to trust the woman who knows how it works.
Caitlyn looked at Deari.
“What does that mean?”
“I think it means you.”
She stared.
“I don't know anything about your organization.”
“You know more than you realize.”
Her father had trained her as a child.
Not intentionally.
Through stories.
Numbers.
Patterns.
He had taught her how to identify financial inconsistencies.
She had forgotten most of it.
Until now.
Caitlyn opened the spreadsheet.
“Wait.”
She pointed.
“These aren't random transactions.”
Deari looked.
“Explain.”
“They move money in circles.”
“How?”
“Company A pays Company B.”
“B pays C.”
“C pays D.”
“D pays A.”
She looked at him.
“It's designed to hide where the money began.”
Deari stared.
“You're right.”
She pointed again.
“But there's a fifth company.”
“Which one?”
“Company E.”
“That company doesn't exist.”
“Exactly.”
Caitlyn smiled faintly.
“That's the point.”
The fifth company was the key.
It was owned by a person listed only as G. Hale.
Deari's face changed.
“You know him.”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
“My uncle.”
Caitlyn went still.
“The one everyone thinks disappeared.”
“He didn't disappear.”
“Then?”
“He's been working against me for years.”
That night, the uncle contacted them.
A message.
Come alone.
Deari ignored it.
Two hours later, Caitlyn received another.
Your brother dies if you don't come.
Her blood froze.
Tommy.
Deari looked at the message.
“Where is he?”
“At the care center.”
He called.
No answer.
They rushed there.
Tommy was gone.
Security footage showed two men taking him.
Deari's expression changed.
“I promised you I wouldn't interfere.”
She looked at him.
“I need you now.”
That was enough.
The city changed.
Cars moved.
Phones rang.
Every connection Deari possessed was activated.
Within hours, they found Tommy.
He was in an abandoned warehouse.
Alive.
Frightened.
But unharmed.
The man waiting for them was Gregory Hale.
Deari's uncle.
He smiled.
“You've become soft.”
Deari raised his weapon.
“You kidnapped an innocent man.”
“He was leverage.”
Caitlyn stepped forward.
“Why?”
Gregory looked at her.
“You.”
She froze.
“You're the reason this entire family is unstable.”
“I don't understand.”
“You were supposed to be dead.”
Deari went still.
“What?”
Gregory smiled.
“Her father knew too much.”
Caitlyn's voice broke.
“You killed him.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because he wouldn't stop.”
She stared.
“Why did you hire me?”
Gregory laughed.
“I didn't.”
Deari turned.
“Then who?”
Gregory looked at him.
“You did.”
The warehouse fell silent.
“What?”
Gregory smiled.
“Your father ordered your secretary's hiring before his death.”
Deari's face hardened.
That meant Caitlyn's presence was not random.
She had been part of a plan.
For years.
Gregory continued.
“She wasn't meant to be your secretary.”
“Then what?”
“She was supposed to be your downfall.”
Caitlyn stared.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“She was supposed to find the ledger.”
Deari looked at her.
“What ledger?”
Gregory smiled.
“The one your father hid.”
Then the warehouse doors opened.
Men entered.
Gunfire erupted.
Deari grabbed Caitlyn.
Tommy was pulled toward safety.
Gregory escaped.
But he left one final message.
Ask your wife why she was chosen.
Caitlyn froze.
“Your wife?”
She looked at Deari.
He looked at her.
Neither spoke.
May you like
Until Deari finally said:
“That's what he wants you to think.”
Related Stories
