Chapter 5 - Someone Inside the House Was Lying
Evelyn Cross had spent twenty-two years putting men like Dante Vale in prison.
According to Adrian, she had secretly helped build the very network she publicly fought.
Adrian showed them bank records.
Payments from construction companies linked to Victor.
Transfers to shell corporations tied to donors connected to Cross.
Consulting fees.
Real-estate purchases.
Anonymous legal trusts.
Each transaction looked clean alone.
Together, they formed a map.
“She protected Victor?” Marco asked.
Adrian shook his head.
“She used him.”
“For what?” Dante asked.
“Information. Names. leverage.”
Adrian admitted he had helped.
He was young, ambitious and desperate for Victor’s approval.
Then Michael discovered the scheme.
“What did you do?” Dante asked.
“I gave him access to the records.”
“Why?”
“Because I finally understood what we were doing.”
“And after he crashed?”
“I went to the river.”
“Was he alive?”
“Yes.”
Dante’s face changed.
“Where did they take him?”
“A private clinic.”
“Who?”
“My father’s people. I thought.”
By evening, Dante returned to the estate.
He silently audited everyone with access to his communications after Michael’s death.
One name stood out.
Thomas Reed.
The operations manager who had organized Michael’s funeral.
Dante called him into the study.
“You remember Michael’s funeral?”
“Of course.”
“Who selected the funeral home?”
“I did.”
“Who sealed the casket?”
Thomas slowly put down his glass.
“Dante…”
Dante’s voice softened.
“Tell me why I buried an empty casket.”
Thomas went pale.
There it was.
Confirmation.
“I didn’t know everything.”
“But you knew enough.”
“Victor told me Michael was compromised.”
“Who intercepted Adrian’s messages?”
Thomas did not answer.
“Who?”
“I did.”
Dante looked away.
Thomas continued.
“I was told Adrian was setting you up.”
“By Victor?”
“No.”
Dante looked back.
“Then who?”
Thomas whispered, “Evelyn Cross.”
Before Dante could continue, the estate alarm sounded.
Then the lights went out.
From upstairs came a scream.
Ellie.
Bruno launched himself through the doorway.
Dante ran after him.
They reached the second floor.
Ellie’s bedroom window had been shattered.
The child was gone.
A length of black climbing rope hung over the balcony.
On Ellie’s pillow lay a white envelope.
COME TO CROSS PLAZA ALONE IF YOU WANT THE GIRL BACK.
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Below that:
ASK ADRIAN WHAT HAPPENED TO MICHAEL AFTER THE RIVER.
