Chapter 11 - the mother who refused to stay dead)
Evelyn Cross called Damian that evening.
No warning.
No intermediary.
His phone displayed a private number.
He answered in the lake house kitchen.
"Hello?"
A woman's voice said his childhood nickname.
"Dami."
His knees nearly gave out.
Only one person had called him that.
"Mom?"
Elena watched his face change.
Damian gripped the counter.
"Where are you?"
"Safe."
"You let me think you were dead."
"I know."
"For sixteen years."
"I know."
"That is all you have to say?"
"No."
Her voice remained controlled.
"I have more to say than we have time for."
Damian laughed in disbelief.
"You had sixteen years."
"I spent most of them trying to stay alive."
"Gabriel Reyes recorded your name."
Silence.
"So you found the archive."
"He said you controlled R17."
"I created it."
"Did you control the fraud?"
"No."
"Why should I believe you?"
"You shouldn't."
The answer surprised him.
Evelyn continued.
"Trust evidence. Not me."
"Then give me evidence."
"I will."
"When?"
"When Richard is in custody."
"Richard says you're responsible."
"I imagine he does."
"Where is he?"
"I don't know."
"Where is Malcolm?"
"Also unknown."
Damian closed his eyes.
"Did you know Gabriel?"
"Yes."
Elena stepped closer.
Damian put the call on speaker.
Evelyn heard another voice.
"Who's there?"
Elena answered.
"Gabriel's wife."
A long silence.
Then Evelyn whispered, "Elena."
Hearing her name from a stranger connected to Gabriel's death made Elena shiver.
"You knew me?"
"Gabriel spoke about you."
"Did you get him killed?"
"No."
"Did you put him in danger?"
"Yes."
The honesty stunned everyone.
Evelyn continued.
"I asked Gabriel to obtain original structural reports because I needed evidence tied to Crosswell projects."
"Why him?"
"He was honest."
"And because he was honest, he's dead."
"I know."
Elena's voice sharpened.
"You don't get to say that like it hurts you the same."
"No. I don't."
For several seconds neither woman spoke.
Then Elena asked, "Who killed him?"
"I don't know who was driving the second vehicle."
"What second vehicle?"
"The police report left it out."
Evelyn explained that another car forced Gabriel toward the barrier shortly before the crash.
A highway camera recorded it.
The footage disappeared from the official file.
Daniel recovered a partial copy.
"Where is it?"
"I have it."
"Then send it."
"I can't."
"Why?"
"Because the person who helped me recover it is still inside the network."
Damian spoke.
"We already know Richard."
Evelyn's voice hardened.
"You know one branch."
"Then tell me the rest."
"I need one thing first."
"What?"
"The R17 ledger."
Damian glanced at Elena.
"No."
"Dami."
"No. Everyone who wants that ledger either disappears or lies."
"I need it to identify current accounts."
"You can identify them without possessing the original."
Evelyn went quiet.
Damian realized something.
"What aren't you telling me?"
No answer.
"Mom."
"When I created R17, I made a contingency."
"What kind?"
"If the trust was compromised, ownership would transfer."
"To whom?"
"To you."
Damian's expression changed.
"I never signed anything."
"You were a minor."
"What does that mean now?"
"It means legally, you may own the network everyone is fighting over."
Elena stared.
Damian whispered, "How much money?"
"Originally twelve million."
"And now?"
"Possibly more than six hundred million."
Silence.
Damian almost laughed.
Six hundred million dollars hidden through criminal shell companies.
In his name.
Without his knowledge.
"If authorities find that before we document what happened," Evelyn said, "you could be treated as the beneficiary of the entire scheme."
Damian understood why his father said he didn't know what he was sitting on.
His wealth had hidden another fortune.
And that fortune could destroy him.
Evelyn continued.
"Richard doesn't only want to escape. He needs your signature."
"For what?"
"To move the trust permanently."
"He'll never get it."
"He doesn't need you willing."
The line disconnected.
Seconds later, the lake house security alarm sounded.
Vehicles approached the front road.
Damian looked through the window.
Police lights.
Detective Sloan emerged.
But behind her were federal agents.
The lead agent entered holding a warrant.
"Damian Cross?"
"Yes."
"We are freezing several of your accounts pending investigation into the R17 Trust."
Damian looked at Elena.
Someone had moved first.
The federal agent continued.
"And we need you to come with us."
Mia ran into the room.
"Mr. Damian?"
Damian turned.
She clutched the crumpled dollar.
Elena lifted her.
Damian looked at the tiny bill.
Every secret seemed to return to it.
He knelt.
"I have to go somewhere for a little while."
Mia frowned.
"Are you in trouble?"
Damian glanced at the agents.
"Maybe."
Mia stretched the dollar toward him.
"You can have Daddy money."
Damian smiled despite everything.
"No."
She insisted.
"It helps."
Damian closed her fingers around it.
"Then keep it safe for me."
As agents escorted Damian outside, Elena's phone vibrated.
Unknown message.
One photograph.
Richard Cross standing beside Mia's preschool.
Taken that morning.
May you like
Beneath it were six words.
Tell Damian to sign or next time we do not miss.
