Chapter 14 - The Neighbor Across the Street
Mark Ellis opened his door before police knocked twice.
He looked tired, not surprised.
"I figured you'd come."
Ruiz kept his hands visible. "We need to talk."
Mark glanced toward the street.
"Not here."
Five minutes later, he sat in the back of an unmarked car and told a story no one expected.
He was not Graham's partner.
He was a federal financial investigator.
For eleven months, he had been quietly tracking Graham's network of shell companies.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Daniel demanded.
"Because if Graham knew he was under federal investigation, he would've disappeared sooner."
Daniel laughed bitterly. "He did disappear."
Mark nodded. "Because the vase incident forced everything into the open."
Emily stared at him. "You knew Vanessa was stealing?"
"We suspected Graham was laundering money through family trusts. Vanessa was one piece. We didn't know about Lily. We didn't know about the hidden cameras."
"And my father?" Daniel asked.
Mark's expression changed.
"We were already reviewing his death."
Daniel stood.
"You knew?"
Ruiz stepped between them.
Mark said, "We knew Robert had discovered irregular transfers. We did not have evidence his death was connected."
Emily asked the question that mattered most.
"Where is Graham now?"
Mark looked at her.
"We think he's trying to reach one last account before it gets frozen."
The account belonged to a charitable foundation Robert had created.
Seventeen million dollars.
Only two people had emergency authority to move it.
Graham.
And Daniel.
"He needs my authentication," Daniel said.
Mark nodded.
"Which means he may contact you."
Daniel's phone rang.
Unknown number.
Nobody moved.
Ruiz activated recording.
Daniel answered.
Graham's voice was calm.
"Daniel, I think we've both had enough surprises."
Daniel gripped the phone.
"You killed my father."
"That's an emotional accusation."
"You hurt my family."
"Vanessa hurt your family. Don't confuse incompetence with strategy."
Daniel looked at Ruiz.
"What do you want?"
"Come to your father's old warehouse at nine tomorrow morning. Bring your phone and the foundation token."
"And if I don't?"
Graham chuckled softly.
"Then I release every recording your sister made of Emily. Edited correctly, they tell a very ugly story."
Emily closed her eyes.
May you like
Graham continued.
"By lunchtime, the whole world will believe your wife abused your child."
