Chapter 18 - THE REAL OWNER
The message created a new mystery.
Claire examined the phone.
"The message came from a hidden server."
Richard frowned.
"Can we trace it?"
"Maybe."
They spent hours following digital records.
The trail crossed several countries.
Then it stopped at one company.
A small investment firm.
Claire recognized the name.
She had worked with them years ago.
Ethan looked at her.
"Who owns it?"
Claire opened the corporate registry.
Her face changed.
"I can't believe it."
Richard stepped closer.
"Who?"
Claire whispered the name.
"Daniel Morgan."
Ethan stared at her.
"Your father?"
Claire nodded.
Her father had died five years earlier.
Or so she thought.
The company records showed activity only three weeks earlier.
Claire called the number listed.
Someone answered.
"Hello?"
Claire couldn't speak.
The voice continued.
"Claire?"
Her heart stopped.
It was her father's voice.
"Where are you?"
Silence.
Then he answered.
"Somewhere safe."
Claire's hands trembled.
Ethan took the phone.
"Who are you?"
The man laughed softly.
"You're Ethan Cole."
"Yes."
"Then you know what this is about."
Ethan frowned.
"No."
"You will."
The call ended.
Claire stared at the phone.
Her father had been dead for five years.
Yet someone had just spoken in his voice.
Evelyn looked at her.
"Marcus wasn't working alone."
Claire nodded.
"Then who is?"
A message appeared on the screen.
One sentence.
Dinner tomorrow. Same restaurant.
May you like
Claire looked at Ethan.
This time, neither of them laughed.
