Chapter 9 - The Real Target
Daniel replayed the recording.
Nothing.
He checked the file.
It was incomplete.
Someone had deleted the rest.
He contacted a digital recovery specialist.
Hours later, the missing audio was restored.
Richard's voice returned.
"The person they wanted was not Daniel."
Daniel stopped breathing.
"It was Linda."
Daniel looked toward his mother.
She was standing behind him.
She already knew.
Daniel turned.
"Why?"
Linda sat down.
"Because I found the accounts."
"What accounts?"
"Money moving through your father's company."
"Money from Marcus?"
"Yes."
"And you?"
"I found evidence that someone was laundering money through the Carter family business."
Daniel stared.
"Then why involve me?"
Linda shook her head.
"They used your swimming career to threaten us."
Daniel finally understood.
His championship had not been the reason for the conflict.
It had been the deadline.
If Richard and Linda did not cooperate, the people behind the scheme would destroy Daniel's future.
Richard chose the cruelest possible solution.
He made Daniel believe he had been rejected.
Linda allowed it.
They thought distance would save him.
But Daniel still had one question.
"Why didn't you come for me?"
Linda looked down.
"Because someone was watching you."
Daniel stared.
"For how long?"
"Fifteen years."
Silence filled the room.
Then Daniel's phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
A message appeared.
You finally found the first half.
Daniel's face went cold.
May you like
A second message followed.
Now find the second half before Ethan does.
