Chapter 5 - The Account
The investigators did not accuse Emily of anything.
That almost made the meeting more frightening.
They asked questions.
Simple questions.
When did she learn about the account?
Had she authorized transactions?
Did she know who had deposited money?
Emily answered honestly.
“No.”
“Did your husband know?”
“I don't know.”
“Have you ever used it?”
“No.”
“Did your father tell you about it?”
Emily hesitated.
“Not directly.”
The investigator studied her.
“Then why is your name attached to it?”
“I don't know.”
Mark finally spoke.
“She was unaware of the account.”
The investigator nodded.
“That is consistent with our records.”
Emily frowned.
“What does that mean?”
“It means the account has been dormant for a very long time.”
“How long?”
“Twenty-one years.”
Emily's face went still.
Twenty-one years.
She remembered that period.
Her father was still alive.
Daniel was still building his first company.
They had barely enough money to rent a decent office.
“What happened twenty-one years ago?”
The investigator looked at her.
“Your father established a private corporate reserve.”
Emily's voice dropped.
“Why?”
“We don't know.”
“Then why are you here?”
“Because someone attempted to access it yesterday.”
Mark immediately looked at Ethan.
Ethan shook his head.
“It wasn't me.”
The investigator continued.
“The attempt came from a device registered to Carter National.”
Emily's stomach tightened.
“Daniel.”
“We cannot confirm that.”
“But you suspect him.”
“We suspect someone with access to his systems.”
Emily looked at Mark.
“Can the injunction stop him?”
“For now.”
The investigator closed the folder.
“We recommend you don't contact your husband.”
Emily almost laughed.
“He has already contacted me.”
“Then don't respond.”
“Why?”
The investigator stood.
“Because whoever tried to access the account knew exactly what they were looking for.”
Emily watched him leave.
When the door closed, Ethan whispered,
“Daniel knows.”
Mark nodded.
“Not everything.”
“But enough.”
Emily looked down at the old account number.
Something bothered her.
She had seen it before.
Not in a bank statement.
Not in a legal document.
Somewhere else.
She searched her memory.
Then remembered.
Her father's desk.
A locked drawer.
A handwritten number.
She stood.
“I need to go home.”
Mark frowned.
“Why?”
“My father's old office.”
“It was sold years ago.”
“No.”
Emily shook her head.
“He had another one.”
Ethan looked surprised.
“Where?”
Emily looked at him.
“Under the original warehouse.”
Ethan's expression changed.
“That place was sealed.”
“Why?”
“I don't know.”
Emily picked up her coat.
“Then we're going.”
Mark grabbed his keys.
As they left, his phone vibrated.
A message from an unknown number appeared.
YOU ARE LOOKING IN THE WRONG PLACE.
Mark showed Emily.
She stared at the screen.
Then typed one response.
WHO ARE YOU?
May you like
The reply arrived immediately.
ASK YOUR HUSBAND.
