Chapter 6 - THE MAN WHO KNEW EVERYTHING
Marcus Vale was supposed to be dead.
That was the first thing Alexander told me.
Not missing.
Not retired.
Dead.
At least according to the records.
“He died twelve years ago in a car accident,” Alexander said.
“Then who is wearing his ring?”
“I don't know.”
We spent the next two days searching.
Not online.
Not through public records.
Alexander had people who could access information I couldn't even imagine existed.
But every trail ended at the same place.
Marcus Vale had disappeared.
His bank accounts had been closed.
His driver's license canceled.
His house sold.
His identity buried.
Then, on the third night, someone knocked on our door.
Alexander's security team immediately surrounded the entrance.
I stood behind him.
A voice came from outside.
“Alexander?”
Alexander froze.
I had never seen him react that way.
He opened the door.
An older man stood outside.
Gray hair.
Dark coat.
Silver ring.
Black stone.
Alexander stared at him.
“Marcus.”
The man nodded.
“Hello, Alex.”
I stepped forward.
“You're alive.”
Marcus smiled sadly.
“Barely.”
Alexander didn't move.
“You were declared dead.”
“I know.”
“Why?”
“Because your father wanted me dead.”
Alexander's jaw tightened.
“My father?”
Marcus entered.
He sat at the dining table.
Then looked at me.
“You're Fiona.”
“Yes.”
“I knew your mother.”
I sat across from him.
“Tell me everything.”
He did.
Twenty-five years earlier, Marcus had been the financial director of the Reed Medical Foundation.
He discovered irregular transfers.
Money was moving between the foundation and several private companies.
One of those companies belonged to Jonathan Prescott.
Another belonged to Evelyn Mercer's family.
Marcus confronted Alexander's father.
He was told to stay silent.
He refused.
Then the threats began.
When he tried to expose the records, his car was sabotaged.
He survived.
But everyone believed he had died.
He went underground.
“For twelve years?” I asked.
Marcus nodded.
“Why come back now?”
“Because the people who caused this are dying.”
“That doesn't answer my question.”
He looked at me.
“Because I found the original ledger.”
My heart stopped.
“The ledger?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“Somewhere your father will never look.”
Alexander leaned forward.
“Where?”
Marcus smiled.
“Under the foundation.”
“What foundation?”
“The one your family built on.”
I didn't understand.
Then Marcus placed an old photograph on the table.
It showed a building.
A children's medical center.
The name had been carved into the stone.
THE PRESCOTT-REED CHILDREN'S CENTER
I stared.
“I've never seen this.”
“You were never supposed to.”
“Why?”
“Because the building doesn't exist anymore.”
“What happened to it?”
“Your father sold the land.”
“To whom?”
“Daniel Mercer's family.”
My stomach dropped.
“Daniel.”
Marcus nodded.
“The same family that helped move the money.”
Everything suddenly connected.
My father.
Daniel's parents.
The foundation.
The stolen money.
Rosalie's account.
But there was still one missing piece.
“Why is someone moving money now?”
Marcus looked at me.
“Because someone is trying to recreate the original crime.”
“To frame my family?”
“To destroy your father's company.”
“Why?”
“Revenge.”
Alexander's voice was quiet.
“Against whom?”
Marcus looked at him.
“Your father.”
Then he looked at me.
“And you.”
I felt cold.
“Why me?”
“Because you're the one who unknowingly inherited the company.”
“I didn't inherit it.”
“You bought it.”
“Yes.”
“Exactly.”
Marcus leaned forward.
“Your father knew that eventually you would discover what he had done.”
I shook my head.
“How?”
“Because he knew you were the only person capable of saving the company.”
That hurt.
My father had always underestimated me.
But apparently, somewhere beneath the insults, he knew exactly what I could do.
Marcus continued.
“He planned to use you.”
“For what?”
“To rebuild Prescott Logistics.”
“And then?”
“Transfer the debt.”
I stared at him.
“What debt?”
“All of it.”
My blood ran cold.
“He wanted me to become responsible.”
“Yes.”
Alexander's face hardened.
“And the money transfers?”
“Part of the plan.”
“To make Fiona look guilty.”
Marcus nodded.
“Rosalie was supposed to be the intermediary.”
That explained everything.
My sister had been used.
Daniel had been used.
My mother had been used.
Everyone had been pieces on the same board.
Except me.
I had been the final target.
I looked at Marcus.
“Who is behind it?”
He hesitated.
Then said,
“Daniel.”
I shook my head.
“No.”
“I'm afraid so.”
“Rosalie loves him.”
“That's why he chose her.”
Alexander stood.
“We need proof.”
Marcus nodded.
“I have it.”
He reached into his coat.
Pulled out a flash drive.
“This contains the original ledger.”
Alexander took it.
“And recordings.”
My heart raced.
“Of my father?”
“Your father.”
“Daniel.”
“Daniel.”
“Evelyn.”
“Everyone.”
I stared at the tiny device.
Twenty-five years of secrets.
All inside something smaller than my palm.
Then Marcus said something that made my blood run cold.
“There is one recording you need to hear before you do anything.”
“What recording?”
“The night your brother died.”
My mother had told me my brother died after an experimental treatment.
Marcus shook his head.
“That wasn't the whole story.”
I couldn't breathe.
“What happened?”
“Your brother wasn't supposed to die.”
Alexander moved closer to me.
Marcus continued.
“Someone changed the medication.”
I stared at him.
“Who?”
Marcus looked directly into my eyes.
“Your father.”
The room disappeared.
I heard only my own heartbeat.
“No.”
Marcus lowered his voice.
“He didn't intend to kill him.”
“Then why?”
“Because the medication was part of the financial fraud.”
I shook my head.
“My brother was a baby.”
“I know.”
“Why would anyone do that?”
Marcus looked at Alexander.
“Because your father's desperation made him reckless.”
I couldn't speak.
Alexander took my hand.
Then the flash drive beeped.
A recording began automatically.
A man's voice filled the room.
My father's voice.
Twenty-five years younger.
Panicked.
“Don't call the hospital.”
Another voice answered.
My mother's.
“He's dying.”
“I know.”
“What did you give him?”
Silence.
Then my father's voice.
“It was supposed to protect us.”
My mother screamed.
“You killed our son!”
The recording ended.
I collapsed into Alexander's arms.
For the first time that night, I cried.
Not because my father had humiliated me.
Not because he had stolen money.
Not because he had destroyed my childhood.
I cried because I had spent thirty-two years believing my brother simply died.
And now I knew someone had made a decision that changed all our lives forever.
Alexander held me.
He didn't speak.
He simply stayed.
Hours later, I finally looked at him.
“What do we do?”
He answered honestly.
“We find the truth.”
“And then?”
“We let the truth speak for itself.”
I nodded.
But before we could continue, Marcus's phone rang.
He answered.
His face changed.
“What?”
He listened.
May you like
Then looked at me.
“Rosalie is missing.”
