Chapter 3
I didn’t unlock the door.
The man outside my window looked to be in his forties.
Dark suit.
No tie.
Short hair.
The second man stood near the rear of my car.
Madison’s fingers tightened around my arm.
“Who are they?” she whispered.
“I don’t know.”
The man tapped his phone against the glass.
“I’m not here to hurt you.”
“Then step away from my car.”
He glanced around the empty parking lot.
“I work for your father.”
That made me pause.
“What’s your name?”
“Daniel Reyes.”
I knew the name.
Dad had mentioned him before.
Former federal investigator.
Head of corporate security for Cole Capital.
I lowered the window another inch.
“Prove it.”
He unlocked his phone and called someone.
Two seconds later, mine rang.
Dad.
I answered without taking my eyes off Daniel.
“Did you send these guys?”
“Yes.”
I exhaled.
“Maybe warn me next time.”
“There wasn’t time.”
Madison looked worried.
“What happened?”
Dad’s voice was calm, which usually meant the situation was worse than he wanted people to know.
“Daniel found something after we spoke.”
“What?”
“Let him explain.”
I hung up.
Daniel stepped back.
I got out.
Madison did too.
Daniel frowned.
“She should stay in the car.”
Madison crossed her arms.
“This is about my family.”
Daniel looked at me.
I shrugged.
“Good luck telling her no.”
He almost smiled.
Then his expression hardened.
“We believe someone has been monitoring Charles Whitmore.”
Madison’s face changed.
“My father?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“We don’t know yet.”
Daniel showed us his phone.
The photo of us had been taken from across the street outside Madison’s house.
Another showed Charles arriving.
Another showed my father’s Bentley.
Madison stared.
“Who took these?”
“We recovered them from a private surveillance account.”
“What does that mean?” I asked.
“Someone hired a firm to watch Charles.”
“Who?”
“We’re working on it.”
Madison looked sick.
“Does Dad know?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
Daniel looked at me before answering.
“Because right now we don’t know whether Mr. Whitmore is the victim or the reason for the surveillance.”
Madison stepped toward him.
“What are you accusing my father of?”
“Nothing.”
“It sounds like you are.”
“I’m telling you what we know.”
I stepped between them.
“Daniel, what did Dad find?”
He lowered his voice.
“Whitmore Development’s financial statements don’t match their internal cash movements.”
Madison shook her head.
“I don’t understand.”
“Money is disappearing.”
Her face went white.
“How much?”
“We’re still calculating.”
“Millions?”
“Yes.”
“Tens of millions?”
Daniel didn’t answer.
That was answer enough.
Madison backed against my car.
“My dad would never steal.”
“No one said he did.”
“You said he knows about hidden losses.”
I looked at her.
She had heard enough of my call with Dad to put it together.
Daniel nodded.
“Your father appears to know the company is in serious trouble.”
“Then why hasn’t he told anyone?”
“That’s what we need to understand.”
Madison pulled out her phone.
“I’m calling him.”
Daniel stopped her.
“I wouldn’t.”
She stared at him.
“Don’t touch me.”
He immediately stepped back.
“I’m sorry. But if someone is monitoring him, calling right after we approach you could alert whoever is watching.”
She looked at me.
“What am I supposed to do?”
I hated seeing her like this.
An hour earlier, her biggest problem had been her mother humiliating me.
Now her family company might be collapsing.
Her father might be involved.
And someone might be following him.
“Come with me,” I said.
“Where?”
“My place.”
Daniel shook his head.
“Your apartment may not be secure.”
I stared at him.
“Seriously?”
“Seriously.”
Madison looked around the dark lot.
“Then where?”
Daniel answered.
“Mr. Cole wants you both at his house.”
I almost refused.
I hadn’t slept at my parents’ house in months.
But this wasn’t about pride.
“Fine.”
Daniel drove behind us.
Madison was silent the entire way.
When we reached my parents’ property in Bel Air, the front gate opened before I stopped.
Madison had been there once before.
But that visit had been a casual Sunday dinner.
Tonight felt different.
Security lights were on.
Two unfamiliar cars were parked near the side entrance.
Dad met us in his study.
My mother was there too.
Claire Cole was the opposite of my father.
Where Dad could make a room nervous by walking into it, Mom had a way of making everyone feel safe.
She hugged Madison immediately.
“What happened?” Madison asked.
Dad looked at Daniel.
“Show them.”
Daniel connected his laptop to the large monitor on the wall.
A spreadsheet appeared.
Rows of transactions.
Shell companies.
Property transfers.
Consulting payments.
Dad pointed to three highlighted names.
“These companies received nearly eighteen million dollars from Whitmore Development over twenty-two months.”
Madison stared.
“For what?”
“Services that appear not to exist.”
“So somebody stole eighteen million dollars?”
“At least.”
She looked at me.
“At least?”
Dad changed the screen.
A chart appeared.
“Your father’s company also borrowed heavily against several development projects.”
Madison looked lost.
Dad spoke gently.
“Charles expanded too fast.”
“He always said growth was good.”
“It can be.”
“But?”
“But debt is unforgiving.”
Madison sat down.
My mother sat beside her.
Dad continued.
“Two projects went over budget. One lost a major tenant. Another is tied up in a lawsuit.”
Madison closed her eyes.
“So the company is broke.”
“Not yet.”
“But close?”
Dad nodded.
She looked at me.
“And you knew nothing?”
“Nothing.”
Dad leaned against his desk.
“I didn’t either until my team started due diligence.”
Madison looked embarrassed.
“I’m sorry.”
Dad frowned.
“For what?”
“My mother.”
“This isn’t about your mother.”
“It kind of is.”
“No.”
Dad’s tone softened.
“Your mother insulted my son. That’s personal. Business is business.”
I gave him a look.
He ignored it.
Madison looked at the monitor again.
“Does my father know about the eighteen million?”
Dad’s jaw tightened.
“We found emails suggesting he discovered unusual payments three months ago.”
“Why didn’t he report them?”
“We don’t know.”
My phone buzzed.
A text.
Unknown number.
I opened it.
A photograph loaded.
Charles Whitmore standing outside his house.
Taken minutes ago.
Under it were six words.
TELL COLE TO WALK AWAY.
I showed Dad.
The room changed.
Daniel immediately took my phone.
“Don’t reply.”
Madison stood.
“That’s my dad.”
Daniel zoomed in.
Charles stood near his Mercedes.
Mrs. Whitmore was visible behind him.
“They’re watching the house now,” Daniel said.
Madison grabbed her purse.
“I’m going home.”
“No,” Dad said.
“That’s my family.”
“And whoever sent this wants a reaction.”
“I don’t care.”
“I do.”
She glared at him.
Dad did not move.
“If this person wanted to expose fraud, they would contact regulators.”
Madison froze.
“They’re threatening him?”
“Possibly.”
“Then call the police.”
Daniel answered.
“We can. But right now we don’t know what crime has occurred beyond possible financial fraud and surveillance. If we move too loudly, evidence may disappear.”
“I don’t care about evidence.”
“I know.”
“I care about my father.”
I stepped closer.
“So do I.”
Madison looked at me.
I continued.
“But running home could make things worse.”
Her eyes filled.
“What if something happens to him?”
Before I could answer, her phone rang.
Her father.
Everyone looked at it.
Madison answered on speaker.
“Dad?”
Charles sounded breathless.
“Madison, where are you?”
“With Ethan.”
“Where?”
She looked at Dad.
Charles repeated himself.
“Madison, where are you?”
“I’m safe.”
A pause.
Then his voice dropped.
“Listen to me carefully.”
Madison went still.
“Dad, what’s happening?”
“I need you to stay away from the house tonight.”
Her face drained.
“Why?”
“Just do what I’m asking.”
“Are you in danger?”
Another pause.
Then we heard Mrs. Whitmore in the background.
“Charles, who are you talking to?”
He covered the phone, but not well enough.
“Go upstairs, Vivian.”
“What is going on?”
“Please.”
Madison started crying.
“Dad.”
Charles returned.
“Honey, listen to me. Whatever happens tomorrow, I love you.”
“No.”
His breathing changed.
“Do you hear me?”
“Stop talking like that.”
“I need you to hear me.”
“Tell me what’s happening.”
“I made mistakes.”
Madison looked at my father.
“What mistakes?”
Charles didn’t answer.
“Dad.”
“I thought I could fix them.”
Dad’s expression darkened.
Charles continued.
“I thought if I had enough time, I could save the company and protect everyone.”
Madison covered her mouth.
“Did you take the money?”
“No.”
He answered immediately.
“No. God, no.”
“Then who did?”
Silence.
“Dad?”
A sound came through the phone.
A door opening.
Charles inhaled sharply.
Then he whispered one word.
“Oh, God.”
The call went dead.
“Dad?”
Madison stared at the screen.
“Dad!”
She called back.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
Daniel was already moving.
He spoke into his radio.
“Send the team.”
Madison ran toward the door.
I followed.
Dad called after us.
“Ethan.”
I turned.
He tossed me a set of keys.
“To the armored SUV.”
Mom looked horrified.
“Richard.”
“I’m not letting them go alone.”
Within two minutes, we were on the road.
Daniel drove.
I sat beside Madison in the back.
She called her father over and over.
No answer.
Then her mother called.
Madison answered instantly.
“Mom?”
All we heard was crying.
“Mom, where’s Dad?”
Mrs. Whitmore could barely speak.
“Madison…”
“What happened?”
“He’s gone.”
Madison stopped breathing.
“What do you mean, gone?”
“I came downstairs and the front door was open.”
“Where is he?”
“I don’t know.”
Then Mrs. Whitmore screamed.
The line went silent.
Madison shouted into the phone.
“Mom!”
A man’s voice came through.
Low.
Calm.
Unfamiliar.
May you like
“Tell Richard Cole to stop digging.”
Then the call ended.
