Chapter 5 - Copy TwoThe second drive was not encrypted.
That scared Adrian more.
It was meant to be found.
Inside were photographs of Vanessa meeting Luis.
Bank transfers.
Text messages.
Then a video.
Elena sitting in her car.
“If this copy appears after I’m gone, assume someone is trying to make Vanessa look guilty.”
Adrian stared.
Vanessa whispered:
“What?”
Elena continued.
“She is dangerous. But she may not be the person I’m most afraid of.”
The room changed.
Maria closed her eyes.
Adrian turned.
“You knew?”
“No.”
“You always say that.”
Maria flinched.
Elena named no one.
Instead, she said:
“There is someone inside Adrian’s company moving money through family offices. Vanessa found part of it before I did.”
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
“Finally.”
Adrian looked at her.
“You knew about fraud?”
“I knew your CFO was hiding losses.”
“My CFO?”
“Marcus Vale.”
Adrian’s closest business partner.
Best man at his first wedding.
Godfather to Oliver.
Adrian almost laughed.
“No.”
Vanessa said:
“That’s what Elena said too.”
Maria looked sick.
“What did Marcus have to do with the foundation?”
Vanessa answered:
“Everything.”
The fake charity vendors used banking relationships tied to Marcus.
Vanessa had stolen money too.
She admitted it.
But she said Marcus designed the network.
“I took my cut.”
Adrian stared.
“At least you’re honest now.”
“No. I’m cornered now.”
That was different.
Then Adrian’s phone rang.
Marcus.
He answered on speaker.
“Adrian, I heard there was an accident at the house.”
Nobody had called him.
Adrian looked at Maria.
She shook her head.
“How did you hear?”
Silence.
Then Marcus said:
“Vanessa called me.”
Everyone looked at her.
Vanessa went pale.
May you like
“I didn’t.”
Marcus hung up.
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