Chapter 10 - THE BROTHER WHO DIED TWICE
Richard did not believe Elena at first.
Then he saw the photograph.
He sat down.
Thomas Harrington had been Richard’s younger brother.
Wild.
Charming.
Brilliant.
And constantly in debt.
Officially, Thomas died in a boating accident in 2003.
His body was never recovered.
Richard had mourned him for years.
Victoria had organized the memorial.
Now Samuel’s letter suggested Thomas had helped steal millions from the company five years before his supposed death.
Julian read the documents.
“Where did the money go?”
Elena opened Samuel’s ledger.
“Offshore accounts.”
“Controlled by whom?”
“Thomas and Victoria.”
Richard stared at his wife through the drawing room doors.
Victoria was still speaking with investigators.
“She married me after Samuel died.”
Elena looked at the dates.
“Eleven months after.”
Richard’s expression changed.
Julian saw it.
“What?”
Richard stood.
“Victoria knew Thomas before she knew me.”
Silence.
Elena closed the ledger.
“How well?”
Richard looked ashamed.
“They dated.”
Julian stared at him.
“You married your brother’s girlfriend?”
“Thomas told me they had ended things.”
“Did they?”
Richard didn’t answer.
Julian walked away.
Elena followed.
“Julian.”
He stopped near the staircase.
“My entire childhood is becoming evidence.”
Elena understood.
But there was no time to process it.
One of the federal agents approached.
“Mr. Harrington.”
Julian turned.
“We’ve discovered encrypted files on a server connected to Mercer Crown.”
“And?”
“They appear to contain instructions signed by you.”
“They’re forged.”
“That will need to be determined.”
The agent looked at Elena.
“Ms. Torres, we would also like to speak with you.”
Victoria had clearly told them Elena’s real name.
Elena held the ledger tighter.
“Of course.”
Before she could move, her phone buzzed.
A text from an unknown number.
DON’T GIVE THEM SAMUEL’S LEDGER.
A second message arrived.
THE AGENT IN THE BLUE TIE WORKS FOR THOMAS.
Elena slowly looked up.
Three federal agents stood in the room.
Only one wore a blue tie.
He was watching her.
Elena felt her pulse quicken.
The man smiled politely.
“Ms. Torres?”
Julian noticed her hesitation.
“What’s wrong?”
Elena forced a smile.
“Nothing.”
Then the agent held out his hand.
“I’ll take whatever documents you brought from the bank.”
Elena looked at his open palm.
The text had come from someone who knew exactly what she had found.
Someone who could see inside the mansion.
She slipped the ledger behind her back.
“No.”
The agent’s smile faded.
“Excuse me?”
Elena stepped backward.
“I said no.”
And suddenly the man reached inside his jacket.
Julian moved first.
He shoved Elena behind him.
Security rushed forward.
The agent pulled out a badge.
Not a weapon.
But the moment of confusion was enough.
The lights went out.
When the emergency power returned twelve seconds later, Victoria was gone.
May you like
So was the man in the blue tie.
And Samuel’s ledger had disappeared from Elena’s hands.
