Chapter 2 - The Men in Black Jackets
The first SUV stopped directly behind Brendan’s sports car.
The second blocked the estate’s main gate.
The third pulled beside the circular driveway.
Six people stepped out.
None wore police uniforms.
They did not need them.
Their black jackets carried a small silver emblem on the chest.
Alder Crown Corporate Security.
Brendan stared at them.
“What the hell is this?”
The tallest man approached Cassidy.
His name was Gabriel Shaw.
For twelve years, he had protected executives, witnesses, financial records, and occasionally Cassidy herself.
He stopped several feet away.
His expression changed when he saw her soaked clothes.
“Ms. Hale.”
Brendan frowned.
“Ms. Hale?”
Gabriel removed his jacket and handed it to Cassidy.
“Protocol Seven has been authenticated.”
Evelyn descended the remaining steps.
“You are trespassing on private property.”
Gabriel looked toward her.
“This property is held through Mercer Residential Partners.”
Evelyn lifted her chin.
“Yes.”
Gabriel nodded.
“Mercer Residential Partners has an outstanding secured credit facility with Alder Crown Holdings.”
Evelyn’s face changed.
Brendan stepped forward.
“What does that have to do with Cassidy?”
Gabriel did not answer him.
He addressed Cassidy.
“The emergency restrictions are in effect.”
“Which accounts?”
“All accounts tied to the flagged entities.”
Brendan’s phone suddenly vibrated.
Then Vanessa’s.
Then Evelyn’s.
Brendan glanced at his screen.
His expression drained of color.
ACCOUNT ACCESS TEMPORARILY RESTRICTED.
He tapped the screen repeatedly.
“What did you do?”
Cassidy pulled Gabriel’s jacket around her shoulders.
“I didn’t do anything to your money.”
Brendan stepped toward her.
Gabriel immediately moved between them.
Cassidy continued.
“I stopped you from moving money that may belong to someone else.”
Vanessa checked her banking application.
“My cards are frozen.”
“So are mine,” Evelyn snapped.
Brendan stared at Cassidy.
“You can’t freeze our accounts.”
Cassidy looked at him quietly.
“Yes, I can.”
He laughed once.
It sounded forced.
“Since when?”
Gabriel looked at Cassidy.
She gave a small nod.
Gabriel opened a leather folder.
“Cassidy Hale is the controlling beneficial owner and executive chair of Alder Crown Holdings.”
Silence fell over the driveway.
Vanessa blinked.
Brendan stared.
Evelyn’s lips parted.
Alder Crown was not a small company.
Its network of private investment funds, property firms, logistics companies, medical technology businesses, and infrastructure holdings was worth billions.
Brendan knew the name because Mercer Development had survived the previous recession using financing from Alder Crown.
Evelyn knew it because half of her family’s expansion had been funded through companies ultimately connected to it.
Vanessa knew it because her marketing agency’s largest client was an Alder Crown subsidiary.
Brendan shook his head.
“No.”
Cassidy watched him carefully.
“You spent seven years telling people I contributed nothing to our marriage.”
“No.”
“You told your mother I lived off you.”
“This is some kind of performance.”
“You told your attorneys I had no significant assets.”
Brendan’s voice rose.
“Because you didn’t!”
Cassidy’s eyes hardened.
“I did.”
Evelyn moved forward.
“You expect us to believe you secretly own Alder Crown?”
Cassidy turned toward her.
“I never needed you to believe it.”
Gabriel’s radio crackled.
A woman’s voice came through.
“Sir, forensic team has confirmed unauthorized access to Hale Continuity files.”
Cassidy felt something colder than the water slide through her.
Gabriel looked at her.
“There’s more.”
He held out a tablet.
On the screen was a transfer ledger.
Forty-seven million dollars had disappeared.
May you like
And the authorization carried Cassidy’s digital signature.
A signature she had never given.
