Chapter 8: The Other Partner
Agent Brooks read the message twice.
“Marcus was never running this alone.””
Rachel held Emma against her chest.
“Someone knows we're here.””
Cole spoke into his radio.
Within minutes, another patrol car was outside.
Brooks moved us into the hallway, away from windows.
“Who else knew about tonight?”” she asked.
“Marcus. Vanessa. Police.””
“Business associates?””
“No.””
“Family?””
“Rachel.””
My sister shook her head.
“I told nobody.””
Brooks looked at my phone.
“Who knew about the Seattle trip?””
“Marcus arranged it.””
“Anyone else?””
“My assistant.””
“Name?””
“Julia Bennett.””
“Call her.””
I dialed.
No answer.
Again.
Voicemail.
“Julia, it’s Daniel. Call me immediately.””
Brooks watched me.
“How long has she worked for you?””
“Six years.””
“Does she manage your travel?””
“Sometimes.””
“Who normally approves itinerary changes?””
“Me.””
“And this trip?””
“Marcus.””
Brooks exchanged a look with Cole.
My phone rang.
Julia.
I answered.
“Daniel?””
She sounded breathless.
“Where are you?””
“At home.””
“Are you alone?””
A pause.
“Yes.””
“Did Marcus ask you to arrange Blackridge transportation?””
Silence.
“Julia?””
“He told me you requested it.””
“I didn't.””
“Oh God.””
“What else did he ask you to do?””
“Daniel, what's happening?””
“Answer me.””
She started crying.
“He asked me for copies of your travel schedule.””
“How far back?””
“Six months.””
My stomach tightened.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“He said the insurance company needed them for executive coverage.””
Brooks held out her hand.
I put the call on speaker.
“Julia,” Brooks said, “my name is Lena Brooks. I'm a federal agent. Do not delete anything from your devices.””
Julia went silent.
“Federal?””
“Did Marcus Hale ever ask you to access Daniel Carter’s electronic signature?””
“No.””
“Passwords?””
“No.””
“Personal files?””
Another pause.
“Once.””
I closed my eyes.
“What file?””
“Sarah’s estate folder.””
My late wife's name hit me like a fist.
“Why?””
“He said Daniel needed a copy for a tax review.””
“When?””
“About five months ago.””
Brooks wrote something down.
“Did anyone else request information?””
“Yes.””
“Who?””
Julia hesitated.
“Vanessa.””
“What did she want?””
“Emma’s birth certificate.””
I gripped the table.
“Did you give it to her?””
“She’s your wife. I thought—”
“Did you?””
“Yes.””
I turned away.
Brooks remained calm.
“Julia, did either Marcus or Vanessa mention Carter-Hale Holdings?””
“No.””
“Westbridge?””
“Constantly.””
“What specifically?””
Julia breathed shakily.
“They were desperate for Daniel to close it.””
I turned back.
“They?””
“I heard them arguing once.””
“Where?””
“At the office.””
“When?””
“Last Thursday.””
“What did they say?””
Julia paused.
“Vanessa said, ‘If Daniel finds the amendment, we're finished.’”
Brooks immediately looked at me.
“What amendment?””
“I don't know.””
Julia continued.
“Marcus told her not to worry because someone named Reed had already handled it.””
Brooks stopped writing.
“Reed?””
“Yes.””
Agent Brooks’s expression changed.
Not fear.
Recognition.
“You know that name,” I said.
She ignored me.
“Julia, what exactly did Marcus call him?””
“Mr. Reed.””
Brooks ended the questioning soon afterward and told Julia to remain home until investigators contacted her.
The moment the call disconnected, I asked again.
“Who is Reed?””
Brooks closed her notebook.
“Possibly nobody.””
“You reacted.””
“Because the name has appeared before.””
“Where?””
“In records connected to another investigation.””
“Marcus?””
“Indirectly.””
I stepped closer.
“My daughter is being threatened. Somebody photographed this house. I need more than indirectly.””
Brooks considered me.
Then she opened her evidence case.
She removed a photograph.
A man in his late fifties leaving a courthouse.
Gray hair.
Expensive suit.
Perfect posture.
I recognized him immediately.
“Richard Reed.””
Rachel looked at me.
“You know him?””
“He's Westbridge’s attorney.””
Brooks nodded.
“And formerly a financial crimes prosecutor.””
I stared at her.
“You think he's involved?””
“I think his name appears in places it shouldn't.””
That wasn't an answer.
But it was enough.
Brooks showed me another document.
Richard Reed had created Carter-Hale Holdings.
He had also notarized the documents containing my forged signature.
My phone buzzed again.
Everyone froze.
This time it wasn't a text.
It was an alert from my home security system.
BASEMENT CAMERA: MOTION DETECTED.
I opened the live feed.
A man wearing a baseball cap and gloves entered my basement.
He walked directly toward the hidden room.
“He knows exactly where he's going,” Cole said.
The intruder opened the door.
Then crouched near the wall.
“What is he doing?”” Rachel whispered.
He pulled something from beneath the pink blanket.
A small black box.
Brooks leaned toward the screen.
“Can you zoom in?””
I did.
The man opened the box.
Inside were several flash drives.
Vanessa had hidden something in that room.
The intruder stuffed the drives into his jacket.
Then he suddenly looked directly at the camera.
My heart stopped.
He wasn't Richard Reed.
I knew that face too.
“That's Peter Lang.””
Brooks looked at me.
“Who?””
“My company’s chief financial officer.””
The man responsible for every dollar that moved through my business.
Peter reached toward the camera.
Before the feed went black, he mouthed three words.
May you like
I read them clearly.
“You’re already dead.””
