Chapter 14 - THE BODYGUARD WHO SOLD THE FAMILY|
Maya Torres had worked for Adrien Voss for nine years.
She had managed security during hostile negotiations, organized evacuations when rival crews threatened the mansion, and once spent three days in a hospital corridor after Adrien was injured in an ambush.
She had never betrayed him.
That was why the evidence was so difficult to accept.
The police discovered that security schedules had been accessed using Maya's credentials. The same credentials had been used to retrieve Lily's movements before the restaurant attack and Noah's school information before the kidnapping.
Adrien refused to believe she was involved.
“Someone stole her credentials.”
Maya sat across from him in the study.
“That's possible.”
“Then prove it.”
“I will.”
He studied her.
“Do you know anything about Daniel Mercer's letter?”
“No.”
“The payments connected to Victor Hail?”
“No.”
“Did you authorize any outside security contractors to access the mansion's systems?”
“Not without your approval.”
Adrien leaned back.
“Then we'll find who did.”
Maya looked relieved, but the relief lasted only seconds.
A forensic analyst entered with a report showing that the credentials had been used from Maya's office computer while she was attending a security conference in another state.
The access had occurred during a period when only three people could enter the office without triggering an alarm.
Maya.
Adrien.
And his longtime financial adviser, Richard Sloane.
Adrien stared at the report.
Richard had managed the Voss family's investments for fifteen years. He had helped Lily establish her scholarship fund and had arranged the financial support Adrien provided to several retired employees.
He was also the person who had advised Adrien to blame Damian Cross for the original warehouse betrayal.
“Bring Richard in,” Adrien said.
Maya nodded.
Richard arrived that evening, carrying a briefcase and wearing his usual expression of polite concern.
“I heard about the kidnapping,” he said. “Terrible business.”
Adrien placed the forensic report on the desk.
“Explain this.”
Richard examined the page.
“Someone has manipulated the records.”
“Possibly.”
“Then we should let the police handle it.”
“We are.”
Richard looked toward Maya.
“You've always been careful with security. I'm sure this is some kind of technical error.”
Maya's expression remained cold.
“Then you'll have no objection to surrendering your devices for examination.”
Richard closed his briefcase.
“I won't be treated like a criminal because of a computer error.”
Adrien stood.
“Your devices will be examined by independent specialists. If you're innocent, the evidence will establish that.”
Richard's face hardened.
“You're making a mistake.”
“Perhaps. But I would rather investigate a friend than allow an innocent person to be blamed.”
Richard left without agreeing to cooperate.
Two hours later, his office was found empty. His company phone had been switched off, and his private vehicle was missing.
The police issued an alert.
Maya stared at the security footage showing Richard leaving the building.
“He knew we were closing in.”
Adrien looked at the screen.
“Find out where he's going.”
The investigators traced his vehicle to a private airfield, but he had already left in another car.
Then an unexpected call came from Stephen Cole, the man arrested during Noah's rescue.
Stephen agreed to provide evidence in exchange for legal consideration.
He revealed that Richard had arranged the payment to Marcus and had supplied information about the restaurant. Damian Cross had financed the operation, but Richard had selected the targets and provided the intelligence.
The motive was not simply revenge.
Richard wanted to force Adrien into a public confrontation with Damian, triggering a violent conflict that would weaken both organizations. In the chaos, Richard planned to seize control of several Voss business assets through companies he secretly owned.
Adrien read the report twice.
For years, he had trusted Richard because the man rarely raised his voice, never challenged him publicly, and always presented his decisions as practical.
He had mistaken quiet manipulation for loyalty.
Maya stood beside him.
“What do you want to do?”
Adrien looked at the photographs of Clare, Lily, and Noah on the desk.
“Find him. Give everything to the police. Freeze the accounts through the proper legal channels.”
Maya nodded.
“And if he runs?”
Adrien's expression became cold.
“Then we let the authorities find him.”
He paused.
“I won't turn another investigation into a personal war.”
Maya looked at him with quiet respect.
The man she had served for nine years was finally learning to separate justice from vengeance.
But Richard Sloane had one last weapon.
May you like
He possessed documents that could expose years of questionable dealings inside the Voss organization.
And he intended to release them unless Adrien agreed to a final meeting.
