Chapter 4 - The Dead Man’s PhoneThe man Adrian sent to retrieve Elena's laptop was named Marcus Reed.
Until Elena Cross nearly drowned, he had never possessed a living witness.
He sat beside her hospital bed at 9:43 that night while rain tapped against the windows of Hudson Memorial.
Elena wore a blue hospital gown.
Her dark hair had dried in uneven waves.
A bruise was beginning to form beneath her collarbone where she had struck the stone ledge during the fall.
Two police officers had already taken her statement.
Neither convinced Adrian.
Especially Detective Martin Shaw.
Shaw had asked Elena the same question five different ways.
Had she been drinking?
Could she have lost her balance?
Was it possible Cassandra touched her only because she was trying to help?
Adrian knew the technique.
Turn attempted murder into confusion.
Turn the victim into an unreliable narrator.
By midnight, Cassandra's public relations team had already released a statement.
“Ms. Vale is deeply distressed by the unfortunate accident involving a valued employee and friend.”
Adrian nearly laughed when he read it.
Friend.
Elena woke when he shifted in the chair.
“You're still here.”
“Yes.”
“You don't have to be.”
“I know.”
She studied him.
“Why were you watching me?”
He leaned back.
“I wasn't.”
“You saw the push.”
“I was watching Cassandra.”
“Why?”
Adrian took a moment.
“My older brother died six years ago.”
Elena's expression softened.
“I'm sorry.”
“His name was Julian.”
Adrian looked toward the dark window.
“He worked with Harrison Vale.”
“At Vale International?”
“Not exactly. Julian was an investigative attorney. He represented investors who believed Vale International had hidden losses during a major acquisition.”
Elena understood immediately.
“Northstar?”
Adrian looked at her.
“You're quick.”
“You knew that already.”
His expression almost softened.
“Julian uncovered payments routed through offshore companies. He believed someone inside the Vale family had created a system for moving money out of failing properties, inflating valuations, and hiding liabilities.”
“What happened?”
“He died.”
Elena already knew the answer to the next question.
“Accident?”
“Private plane crash.”
The room went quiet.
“Was Cassandra involved then?”
“She was twenty-six. Working in corporate strategy.”
“And you think she—”
“I don't know what she did.”
His voice hardened.
“But before Julian died, he called me. He said, ‘If anything happens, look at the daughter.’”
Elena felt a chill.
“Why didn't you go to the police?”
“I did.”
“And?”
“Vale had lawyers. Political friends. Investigators. The crash was ruled mechanical failure.”
Adrian's jaw tightened.
“I spent years following money trails that disappeared whenever I got close.”
“Until Thomas.”
“Yes.”
Elena stared at the blanket.
“My predecessor.”
“He contacted me nine months ago.”
“What did he say?”
“That Cassandra asked him to create fake travel invoices.”
Elena looked up.
“How much?”
“Millions.”
“Travel invoices?”
“That's what they looked like. Private aviation, luxury properties, consulting expenses. But the companies receiving the money didn't exist.”
“Northstar?”
“He never used the name.”
Elena remembered the folder.
“So why did he die?”
“He got scared.”
Adrian leaned forward.
“He copied files and told Cassandra he was resigning.”
Elena closed her eyes.
“He threatened her.”
“Maybe.”
“Four days later, overdose.”
“Yes.”
“And Peter Walsh?”
“Same pattern.”
“Monica Reyes?”
“Same.”
Elena opened her eyes.
“Why wasn't this exposed?”
“Because evidence vanished after every death.”
“Then my laptop—”
She sat up too quickly.
Pain shot through her ribs.
Adrian steadied her.
“My laptop.”
“I sent someone.”
“Who?”
“A security consultant I trust.”
“And?”
His silence answered.
Elena's stomach dropped.
“It's gone.”
“Yes.”
She looked toward the hospital door.
“Cassandra?”
“Probably.”
Elena grabbed the blanket.
“The photos synced.”
“Where?”
“Cloud storage.”
“Password?”
She hesitated.
Adrian noticed.
“Don't tell me.”
“What?”
“Not here.”
His eyes moved toward the ceiling.
“Assume someone is listening.”
Elena laughed once.
It came out shaky.
“This is insane.”
“No. What's insane is believing people worth forty billion dollars follow the same rules as everyone else.”
A knock sounded.
Both turned.
Harrison Vale entered.
No security.
No lawyer.
Just an elderly billionaire wearing a charcoal suit.
His silver hair was immaculate.
“Elena.”
Adrian rose.
“You shouldn't be here.”
Harrison ignored him.
“I came to apologize.”
Elena stared.
“For your daughter?”
“For what happened.”
“She pushed me.”
Harrison's face remained composed.
“Cassandra says she didn't.”
“I don't care what she says.”
“She has known you more than a year.”
“And?”
“Why would she want to hurt you?”
Elena looked at Adrian.
Then Harrison.
“Because I opened the wrong drawer.”
For the first time, Harrison's expression changed.
Barely.
But Elena saw it.
So did Adrian.
Harrison slowly sat.
“What did you see?”
“There it is,” Adrian said.
Harrison turned.
“I wasn't speaking to you.”
“You never are when witnesses are present.”
Harrison's eyes hardened.
Elena interrupted.
“What is Project Northstar?”
Harrison's face went still.
Adrian watched him.
“You know.”
Harrison stood.
“I think you've had a frightening day. You should rest.”
Elena almost laughed.
“You came here because you thought I had evidence.”
“I came because my daughter is devastated.”
“She tried to kill me.”
“Careful.”
One word.
Soft.
Dangerous.
Adrian stepped between them.
“No, Harrison. You be careful.”
Harrison's gaze moved to him.
“You still think this ends differently than it did for Julian?”
Adrian froze.
Elena saw something terrible pass through his face.
Harrison smiled.
Then seemed to realize what he had said.
Too late.
Adrian's voice dropped.
“What did you just say?”
Harrison turned toward the door.
Adrian caught his arm.
Two security men instantly appeared in the hallway.
Elena's pulse jumped.
Harrison looked down at Adrian's hand.
“Remove it.”
Adrian did.
Slowly.
Harrison straightened his sleeve.
Then he looked at Elena.
“You're frightened. I understand.”
“No, you don't.”
“I can make sure you're protected.”
“From whom?”
He didn't answer.
Elena leaned forward.
“You know Cassandra pushed me.”
Silence.
“And you're protecting her.”
Harrison's eyes showed something unexpected.
Not loyalty.
Fear.
That disturbed Elena more than anything.
Harrison Vale was afraid of his own daughter.
He left.
Adrian stood motionless.
Elena whispered, “He knew about your brother.”
“He knew the crash.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“He knew how much it hurt you.”
Adrian looked toward the door.
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
“Mercer.”
A voice spoke rapidly.
His expression changed.
“When?”
He listened.
“Call the police. Don't touch anything.”
He hung up.
“What happened?” Elena asked.
“The office where your laptop disappeared from?”
“Yes?”
“Security guard just found a body.”
Her throat tightened.
“Who?”
Adrian looked at her.
“The man I sent to retrieve it.”
Elena stopped breathing.
Cassandra hadn't just tried to kill her.
May you like
She was cleaning up the mistake.
And now anyone standing beside Elena was a target too.
