Chapter 11 - The Name Above Martha
For the first time, Martha’s fear made sense.
Emma had mistaken Martha’s control for absolute power.
But powerful people did not whisper into phones unless they feared someone else listening.
Agent Hayes focused on one name.
Leonard Voss.
The distributor Andrew mentioned.
Voss had owned a regional medical transportation network before retiring in 2019.
He now lived in Florida.
At least officially.
Federal records showed he had traveled internationally almost every month for six years.
Singapore.
Switzerland.
Panama.
Cayman Islands.
Emma asked the obvious question.
“Was he running the network?”
Hayes answered carefully.
“Possibly.”
Andrew gave federal investigators a second possibility.
Steven Cole.
Emma’s former supervisor.
The man who buried her report.
Cole had risen dramatically after Emma left the company.
He later became executive vice president of a major healthcare purchasing organization.
More interestingly, he had helped Daniel obtain his current job.
Emma stared at Daniel across the federal interview room.
“You’re still connected to him.”
Daniel looked horrified.
“I didn’t know.”
Emma believed him.
That almost made it worse.
Daniel had spent eight years benefiting from people he refused to question.
Hayes opened a file.
“Mr. Cole approved your hiring personally.”
Daniel read the email.
His face drained.
“I never saw this.”
“He also approved three promotions.”
Emma folded her arms.
“Why?”
Hayes answered.
“Maybe because your employment gave someone access to healthcare logistics data.”
Daniel shook his head.
“I don’t have access to anything criminal.”
“Maybe not knowingly.”
That word followed Daniel everywhere now.
Knowingly.
He had become the perfect instrument because he was willing to avoid knowledge.
Later that afternoon, Martha was detained.
Not arrested.
Interviewed.
She demanded an attorney.
Then she demanded to speak with Daniel.
Daniel refused.
Martha demanded Emma instead.
Emma almost refused too.
Agent Hayes recommended she accept.
They placed Emma behind protective glass.
Martha entered wearing the same beige cardigan from the day she hit Sophie.
The bruise from Emma’s slaps had faded yellow along her jaw.
Martha sat.
Picked up the phone.
Emma did the same.
For several seconds neither spoke.
Then Martha smiled.
“You found Rebecca.”
Emma’s heart jumped.
“You knew.”
“I suspected.”
“Where is Laura?”
Martha’s smile disappeared.
“You’re asking the wrong question.”
“What is the right one?”
“Why did Laura choose you?”
Emma remembered Rebecca’s recording.
“She thought I would protect Ethan.”
Martha laughed softly.
“No.”
Emma waited.
“She picked you before Ethan was born.”
Emma went still.
Martha continued.
“You think you randomly reviewed those Northbridge claims?”
Emma said nothing.
“Laura put them in front of you.”
“Why me?”
Martha leaned closer.
“Because of your father.”
Emma’s breath stopped.
“My father died when I was six.”
“I know.”
“He was a schoolteacher.”
Martha smiled.
“No, Emma.”
The smile was almost pitying.
“That’s what your mother told you.”
Emma’s grip tightened on the phone.
May you like
Martha whispered.
“Your father worked for Leonard Voss.”
