Chapter 12 - THE TRAITOR BESIDE HIM
The name was Marcus Bell.
Daniel's chief financial officer.
His closest adviser.
The man who had helped him run the company for five years.
Daniel stared at Lydia.
“You're saying Marcus helped kill my father's first wife?”
Lydia nodded.
“He was young then. But he worked for Arthur.”
Evelyn looked at Daniel.
“Your father trusted him.”
Daniel shook his head.
“Marcus is loyal.”
Lydia handed him a file.
Inside were financial transfers.
Marcus had been receiving money from an offshore account for years.
Daniel felt sick.
He called Marcus.
“Come to my office.”
“Is everything okay?”
“No.”
Marcus arrived forty minutes later.
Daniel placed the file on the desk.
Marcus looked at it.
Then he closed his eyes.
“I was hoping you would never find this.”
Daniel stood.
“How long?”
Marcus said nothing.
“How long have you been working for them?”
“Since before your father died.”
Daniel's fists clenched.
“You were there.”
“Yes.”
“You helped kill Caroline.”
Marcus looked at Evelyn.
“I didn't kill her.”
“But you let it happen.”
Marcus nodded.
“Yes.”
Daniel turned away.
“Why?”
Marcus's voice broke.
“Because Arthur had my son.”
Daniel looked at him.
“What?”
“My son was born with a heart condition. Arthur paid for the treatment.”
“So you sold my family.”
“I was desperate.”
“You sold my father.”
Marcus began to cry.
“I know.”
Daniel looked at him.
“How much did you steal?”
Marcus gave him a number.
Eighty million dollars.
The missing money.
Daniel slowly sat down.
“Where is it?”
“Offshore.”
“Can you get it back?”
“Yes.”
“Then do it.”
Marcus stared.
“What?”
“You will testify.”
Marcus shook his head.
“They will kill me.”
Daniel looked at him.
“They already destroyed your life.”
Marcus lowered his head.
For the first time, he understood.
He had spent decades obeying powerful men because he was afraid of losing everything.
But he had already lost himself.
He agreed to testify.
And with his testimony, the final pieces of the conspiracy fell into place.
Arthur Ashford was charged with multiple crimes.
Thomas accepted a plea agreement.
And Marcus became the government's key witness.
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But the case was not over.
Because Arthur still had one final weapon.
