Chapter 4 - THE RECORDING
The recording was old.
The audio crackled.
Then a man’s voice filled the private conference room.
Robert Mitchell.
I recognized him from photographs.
His voice was deeper than I expected.
“If you're hearing this, something has happened to me.”
Elena covered her mouth.
Jason stood outside the glass doors with two attorneys.
Daniel continued playing.
“I discovered unauthorized transfers from the company.”
A pause.
“Jason says he did it to save the business.”
My hands tightened.
“He lied.”
Another pause.
“He has created three companies. All controlled by him.”
Daniel looked at me.
The recording continued.
“I confronted him tonight.”
Then came a sound.
A chair scraping.
Robert’s voice became strained.
“You need to understand something, Jason. This company belongs to your sister.”
My breath caught.
Sister?
I looked at Elena.
She closed her eyes.
Daniel stopped the recording.
“Your sister?”
Elena nodded.
“Jason has a sister?”
“Yes.”
“Where is she?”
Elena whispered a name.
“Rachel.”
I stared at her.
“Why have I never heard of her?”
“Because Jason erased her.”
Daniel frowned.
“From what?”
“Everything.”
Elena explained that Rachel had been Robert’s original business partner.
She had designed the technology that became the foundation of Mitchell Medical Technologies.
But after Robert’s death, Jason convinced the family that Rachel had abandoned the company.
She hadn't.
She had been forced out.
Then came the strangest part.
Rachel had challenged Jason in court.
And the case had disappeared.
“Disappeared?” Daniel asked.
Elena nodded.
“Settlement. Confidential.”
“Who represented Rachel?”
Elena looked at me.
“Your husband’s attorney.”
My blood ran cold.
The same attorney now standing beside Jason had once represented the person Jason supposedly defeated.
Daniel immediately stood.
“We need to find Rachel.”
“I already did.”
Elena reached into her purse.
She handed him an address.
Daniel read it.
Then looked at me.
“She’s alive.”
Before I could respond, my phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
I answered.
A woman's voice whispered:
“I know what Jason did.”
“Who is this?”
“My name is Rachel.”
I froze.
“I know about the money,” she continued.
“I know about Robert.”
“And I know what happened to your marriage.”
I glanced toward the courtroom.
“Where are you?”
She hesitated.
“Look behind you.”
I turned.
Across the courthouse lobby, a woman in a black coat stood watching me.
Then she said four words that changed everything.
“Jason isn't your enemy.”
My stomach dropped.
May you like
“He's covering for someone.”
The line went dead.
