Chapter 7 - Someone Inside Cain Logistics
Valerie watched the recording seventeen times.
“That’s him.”
Ethan believed her.
Daniel was alive.
The question was why.
A trace from the surveillance system led to an abandoned Cain warehouse near the river.
Ethan wanted Valerie protected elsewhere.
She refused.
“My husband is involved.”
“And someone is trying to kill people.”
“Then drive.”
The warehouse smelled of dust and rust.
They found Daniel’s temporary camp upstairs.
Food.
Blankets.
Medical supplies.
And walls covered with financial records.
At the center was a photograph of Marcus.
But Marcus was not circled.
Eleanor was.
Valerie found another photograph.
Daniel and Eleanor meeting secretly.
A handwritten note beneath it read:
SHE KNOWS WHO CREATED 417.
Ethan’s phone rang.
Marcus.
“Where are you?”
“Why?”
“Because your mother just disappeared.”
Ethan turned toward Valerie.
“When?”
“Twenty minutes ago.”
“From where?”
“Your penthouse.”
A noise came from downstairs.
Ethan signaled Valerie to remain still.
Footsteps.
Slow.
Someone climbed the stairs.
Ethan raised his weapon.
Daniel Bennett appeared.
Valerie stopped breathing.
“Daniel?”
Her husband looked thinner.
Scarred.
Terrified.
But alive.
Valerie ran toward him.
Daniel caught her.
For several seconds, Ethan looked away.
Then Daniel met Ethan’s eyes.
“You shouldn’t have brought her.”
“She insisted.”
Daniel almost smiled.
“That sounds like Val.”
Valerie struck Daniel across the face.
Then hugged him again.
“You let me bury you.”
“I had to.”
“Why?”
“To keep you alive.”
Daniel looked at Ethan.
“Your father built Account 417 to hide payments to officials and criminal partners. After he died, someone restarted it.”
“Marcus?”
“No.”
“Eleanor?”
Daniel hesitated.
“No.”
“Then who?”
Daniel glanced toward the stairs.
“We need to leave.”
“Who restarted it?”
A gunshot shattered the window.
Ethan pulled Valerie down.
Daniel fell.
Blood spread across his shoulder.
More shots struck the wall.
Ethan dragged both of them behind machinery.
Daniel grabbed Ethan’s sleeve.
“You want the name?”
“Yes.”
Daniel whispered, “Ask your brother.”
Ethan froze.
Because Ethan Cain had buried his brother nine years ago.
Then someone downstairs shouted:
May you like
“Ethan!”
He recognized the voice.
