Chapter 9 - THE FILE
The flash drive contained over three thousand files.
Sarah and the investigators worked for days.
Every file revealed another layer.
Bribes.
Fake invoices.
Offshore accounts.
Threats.
Payments.
Names.
The case became national news.
Richard Mercer disappeared.
Victoria Hale was arrested at an airport.
Daniel remained in custody.
Emma refused every interview.
She only wanted justice.
Then Sarah discovered one missing file.
"Your father's final report."
Emma looked up.
"What's missing?"
"The original."
"Could Daniel have it?"
"No."
"Then who?"
Sarah looked at the evidence log.
"Your mother."
Emma stared.
"Mom?"
They found Margaret sitting in her kitchen.
When Sarah asked about the report, Margaret became silent.
Finally, she opened a drawer.
Inside was a sealed envelope.
"I promised your father I would never open it unless someone came for us."
Emma took it.
Her father's handwriting appeared on the front.
For Emma.
She cried before opening it.
Inside was a letter.
My little girl,
If you are reading this, I failed to protect you from the truth.
But I need you to know something.
None of this was your fault.
Richard wanted control.
I refused.
Daniel was only a frightened boy.
I hope he chooses differently.
But never trust promises.
Trust actions.
Emma pressed the letter against her chest.
There was another page.
A final account number.
Sarah entered it into the system.
The account belonged to Richard Mercer.
But the money inside had been transferred recently.
To an account in Emma's name.
Emma stared.
"That's impossible."
Sarah's face changed.
"Someone is trying to make it look like you're part of this."
"When?"
"Yesterday."
Emma felt sick.
"Daniel."
"No."
Sarah shook her head.
"He has been in custody."
Then they understood.
Someone else was moving the pieces.
Richard Mercer wasn't running.
He was preparing his final move.
And Emma was the target.
That night, every news station reported breaking information.
A massive financial scandal had been uncovered.
But one anonymous source claimed Emma Carter had received millions from the Mercer organization.
Her photograph appeared on television.
Emma stared at the screen.
Her phone exploded with messages.
Her name was becoming a headline.
Her father's warning returned to her.
Trust actions.
Emma looked at Sarah.
"What do we do?"
Sarah answered calmly.
"We prove the money was planted."
"And if we can't?"
May you like
Sarah looked directly at her.
"Then we keep fighting."
