Chapter 7 - THE MURDER BEHIND THE EMPIRE
Adrien Voss had spent seven years believing his father died of natural causes.
Now Michael Carter was telling him Victor had been murdered.
The room went silent.
Adrien's face became unreadable.
"That's a serious accusation."
Michael nodded.
"I know."
"Do you have evidence?"
"Yes."
Adrien leaned forward.
"Where?"
Michael reached toward a drawer.
Inside was a small encrypted storage device.
"I kept copies of the original records."
Adrien looked at it.
"Why didn't you come forward?"
Michael lowered his eyes.
"Because the first investigator I contacted disappeared."
I felt cold.
"What investigator?"
"Daniel Whitaker."
Adrien's expression changed.
"Whitaker?"
Michael nodded.
"He was working on several financial fraud cases involving the Whitmore trusts."
Rebecca Shaw leaned forward.
"Did he leave any reports?"
Michael nodded.
"Several."
The device contained financial records, correspondence, and video files.
Investigators would need to authenticate everything.
But one recording immediately caught Adrien's attention.
His father sat behind a desk.
Victor Voss.
Alive.
Speaking into a camera.
"If anyone finds this recording, understand that the Whitmore trust investigation is more dangerous than it appears."
Adrien stopped breathing.
He hadn't heard his father's voice in seven years.
Victor continued.
"Nathan Whitmore has been using false guardianship records to seize family assets."
He paused.
"Catherine Whitmore discovered the fraud."
My heart tightened.
Victor looked directly into the camera.
"She died after threatening to report him."
I covered my mouth.
Then he continued.
"I believe her death was arranged."
Adrien's jaw hardened.
The recording shifted.
Victor opened a folder.
"The evidence also implicates people inside my own organization."
Adrien leaned forward.
"Who?"
Victor answered.
"Martin Hayes."
My stomach tightened.
I'd heard that name before.
Martin Hayes was one of Adrien's oldest business associates.
A powerful attorney.
A man who handled complicated corporate disputes for half the city.
Victor continued.
"Martin has been protecting Nathan Whitmore for years."
Then he looked directly into the camera.
"If something happens to me, Adrien must not trust Martin."
The video ended.
Adrien sat motionless.
For seven years, Martin Hayes had acted like a father figure.
He attended family dinners.
Advised Adrien on investments.
Comforted him after Victor's funeral.
And now the evidence suggested he'd helped cover up his father's death.
I reached for Adrien's hand.
He looked at me.
For the first time since I'd met him, the feared mafia boss looked genuinely lost.
"I'm sorry," I whispered.
He squeezed my fingers.
Then his phone rang.
Martin Hayes.
Adrien stared at the screen.
He answered.
"Martin."
The older man's voice sounded cheerful.
"Adrien, my boy! I hear you've been spending time with a waitress."
Adrien's expression hardened.
"What do you want?"
Martin laughed.
"Just checking on you."
Then his voice changed.
"Tell Sophie Carter she has forty-eight hours to sign the trust documents."
My blood ran cold.
Adrien looked directly at me.
May you like
Martin continued.
"Otherwise, her mother loses more than her medication."
