Chapter 10 - The Price of Silence
Maya found her father in the executive lobby.
Henry Reed looked older than he had that morning.
Not tired.
Cornered.
She walked straight up to him.
“Elena is alive.”
He closed his eyes.
That was his answer.
“You knew.”
“Yes.”
Maya slapped the folder against his chest. “You signed her termination.”
“To get her out of the company.”
“You took money.”
“To pay for her disappearance.”
Maya stared at him.
Henry lowered his voice. “In 2009, Elena uncovered a fraud network tied to Whitmore vendors. Grant Mercer was involved, but he wasn’t in charge. Someone above him was using acquisitions to move money, hide kickbacks, and buy silence.”
“Charles?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
Henry looked toward the cameras.
“Not here.”
Maya laughed bitterly. “You’ve had seventeen years to tell me the truth.”
“I was trying to keep you outside it.”
“You put me inside it by making Reed Strategic Partners part of this merger.”
“That was not my decision.”
“Whose was it?”
Henry hesitated.
“Your mother’s.”
Maya stopped.
“My mother died when I was twelve.”
“Yes.”
“What does she have to do with Whitmore?”
Henry’s face tightened.
“More than you know.”
Rebecca approached. “We need to move. Someone just tried to access the building’s evidence server.”
Maya did not look away from her father.
“Finish the sentence.”
Henry swallowed.
“Your mother, Laura, was Elena’s attorney.”
The air left Maya’s lungs.
“No.”
“She helped Elena disappear after the crash. The payment you found under my name was part of the escape plan.”
“Why hide it from me?”
“Because Laura believed the person behind the scheme would come after our family if the ledger ever resurfaced.”
Maya’s voice broke despite herself. “Who was it?”
Henry finally answered.
“Charles Whitmore’s wife.”
Maya stared at him.
“Margaret Whitmore?”
Henry nodded.
Behind them, the elevator doors opened.
May you like
Claire stepped out.
She had heard everything.
