Chapter 7 - The Secret Inside the Backpack
Officer Alvarez returned to the house with Rachel the following morning.
The kitchen had been sealed overnight. The coffee stain had dried, and the broken chair remained where it had fallen.
Rachel noticed Chloe’s backpack near the refrigerator.
Inside, beneath a math workbook and a pencil case, was a small blue fabric pouch.
It contained the original storage drive.
There was also a note from Daniel.
Rachel,
If something happens before I can explain, give this to Attorney Helen Price. Trust Lila. Protect Chloe. I’m sorry I waited so long.
Daniel
Rachel closed her eyes.
Alvarez photographed the note before allowing her to contact the attorney.
The drive contained copies of company bank records, internal messages, falsified contracts, and recordings of two conversations between Daniel and Owen.
In one recording, Owen admitted using client deposits to cover failed personal investments.
In another, he threatened to blame Daniel if the truth became public.
There was more.
Owen had used Daniel’s electronic signature on loans worth millions of dollars. If the fraud remained hidden, Daniel could have been held responsible.
Lila joined Rachel at the police station.
She looked devastated.
“I knew they were arguing, but Daniel never told me why.”
“He didn’t want to divide the family.”
“Owen divided it the moment he chose money over everyone else.”
Detectives searched Owen’s office and discovered prepared documents shifting full responsibility for the missing funds to Daniel.
Owen had planned to remove the drive, replace several files, and claim Daniel had acted alone.
The emergency at the house had not been part of his original plan.
He had expected Daniel to be alone.
He had expected Chloe to remain at school.
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Most of all, he had expected his brother to surrender.
Instead, Chloe’s early arrival and a single desperate phone call exposed him.
