Chapter 9 - THREE DEAD MEN
Sophie read the article twice.
Then a third time.
The words did not change.
Three workers had died.
A structural collapse.
The ownership had been hidden through a holding company.
Documents allegedly linked the property to Charles Reed.
Sophie felt sick.
Daniel spoke quietly.
“I never heard about this.”
“Neither did I.”
Thomas started laughing from across the room.
Everyone looked at him.
“You think this is funny?” Sophie asked.
“No.”
He smiled anyway.
“I think your father was a lot more complicated than you wanted to believe.”
Sophie walked toward him.
“Did Victor send this story?”
Thomas leaned back.
“You already know.”
“Where did the documents come from?”
“Maybe they’re real.”
“Where?”
He shrugged.
Sophie grabbed the back of his chair.
“Three people died.”
Her voice shook now.
Not fear.
Rage.
“If my father had anything to do with it, I want the truth.”
Thomas stared at her.
“You really mean that.”
“Yes.”
“That’s your weakness.”
“No.”
Sophie leaned closer.
“It’s yours.”
Daniel pulled her aside.
“We need to verify ownership.”
“How?”
“Old corporate records.”
“Do it.”
Madison stepped forward.
“I might know something.”
Sophie turned.
Madison looked uncertain.
“When I was a kid, my dad used to take calls about a warehouse.”
“What warehouse?”
“I don’t know. I remember because my mom hated it.”
“Why?”
“She said three families were destroyed.”
Nobody spoke.
Madison continued.
“I was maybe fifteen.”
Fourteen years ago.
The math matched.
“Did she say anything else?” Sophie asked.
Madison closed her eyes, trying to remember.
“She said, ‘You let Charles carry this too.’”
Sophie’s heart stopped.
“Too?”
Madison nodded.
“My parents had a huge fight. Mom was crying. Dad told her she didn’t understand business.”
“Where is your mother?”
“Connecticut.”
“Call her.”
Madison hesitated.
“She hasn’t spoken to my father in six years.”
“Good.”
Madison called.
No answer.
Again.
No answer.
A third time.
Voicemail.
Madison sent a text.
Please call me. It’s about Dad and the warehouse.
Thirty seconds later, her phone rang.
Madison answered.
“Mom?”
She listened.
Her expression changed.
“What do you mean?”
Sophie stepped closer.
Madison put the call on speaker.
A woman’s frightened voice filled the room.
“Madison, where are you?”
“Sterling Crown.”
“Leave.”
“Mom—”
“Leave right now.”
“Why?”
“Because if Victor knows you’re asking questions, you are not safe there.”
Madison looked at Sophie.
“What happened at the warehouse?”
Silence.
Then her mother whispered, “Your father owned it.”
Madison’s knees almost buckled.
“And Charles Reed?”
“Charles tried to expose him.”
Sophie grabbed the edge of the table.
Madison whispered, “Then why does everything say Charles owned it?”
Her mother started crying.
“Because Victor forged the ownership transfer after the collapse.”
The line went silent for a moment.
Then Madison’s mother gasped.
A door had opened on her end.
“Mom?”
No answer.
“Mom!”
A man’s voice came faintly through the phone.
“Give me that.”
Madison went white.
She knew the voice.
May you like
“Dad?”
The call disconnected.
