Chapter 3 - The Man Her Father Feared
Marcus Vale closed the door behind him.
Evelyn stared at the folder.
Her father's initials were written across the corner.
C.S.
“Where did you get that?”
Marcus looked exhausted rather than threatening.
“Evelyn, we need to talk.”
“Where did you get my father's file?”
“Your office.”
“That's impossible.”
“I had access.”
“No, you didn't.”
Marcus placed the folder on the table.
“You gave me access three years ago.”
“Not to my father's archive.”
Marcus hesitated.
That was enough.
Evelyn reached for the nurse-call button.
Marcus raised both hands.
“I'm not here to hurt you.”
“Then leave.”
“Please.”
“You already left.”
His expression changed.
“I made a mistake.”
“You told a woman you supposedly loved that her illness wasn't your problem.”
“I panicked.”
“No. Panic is running from a burning building. You made a decision.”
Marcus looked toward the agreement.
“You changed the partnership.”
“Yes.”
“To the electrician?”
Evelyn's eyes narrowed.
“How do you know about him?”
Marcus didn't answer.
Fear moved through her.
“Have you been watching me?”
“I'm trying to protect you.”
“From what?”
Marcus looked at the door.
“From him.”
Evelyn almost laughed.
“Nate?”
“That's not his name.”
Her smile disappeared.
Marcus pushed the folder toward her.
“Your father spent years investigating people who infiltrated Sterling Global by pretending to be ordinary contractors.”
Evelyn stared at him.
“Convenient story.”
“Open it.”
She did.
Photographs.
Invoices.
Security reports.
Then a picture.
Nathan.
Her stomach dropped.
The photograph showed him with shorter hair, clean-shaven, wearing a U.S. Army uniform.
Captain Nathan Cole.
Evelyn stopped breathing for a moment.
Marcus whispered, “Your electrician is a soldier.”
Nathan's voice came from behind him.
“Yes.”
Marcus spun around.
Nathan stood inside the doorway.
His work clothes were still dirty.
But his expression was different.
Gone was the gentle stranger.
This was the man in the photograph.
“Step away from her,” Nathan said.
Marcus laughed nervously.
“You finally dropped the act.”
“I said step away.”
Marcus moved.
Evelyn looked at Nathan.
“Is it true?”
Nathan said nothing.
“Nate.”
“My name is Nathan Cole.”
The betrayal hurt more than Evelyn expected.
“You lied.”
“Yes.”
“Are you Army?”
“Yes.”
“Were you investigating me?”
“No.”
Marcus laughed.
“Ask him who he was investigating.”
Nathan looked at Marcus.
“You.”
Evelyn turned.
Marcus's face changed.
Nathan entered fully.
“Marcus Vale has been connected to shell corporations diverting money and shipments through Sterling Global.”
“That's a lie,” Marcus said.
Nathan continued.
“Vanguard Meridian is one of them.”
Evelyn looked between them.
“Stop.”
Neither spoke.
“Both of you stop.”
She looked at Nathan.
“Did you know who I was when I called?”
“No.”
“Did you come because of your investigation?”
“No.”
“Did you stay because of it?”
Nathan hesitated.
That hesitation wounded her.
“At first, no.”
“And later?”
“Later I realized your situation might be connected.”
Evelyn's eyes filled.
“So every conversation—”
“No.”
“You watched me cry.”
“I know.”
“I told you things I've never told anyone.”
“I know.”
“And you were investigating my company?”
“I was trying to keep you alive.”
“Get out.”
Nathan froze.
“Evelyn.”
“Both of you.”
Marcus started to speak.
“OUT!”
Nathan looked at her.
Then he walked away.
Marcus followed.
Outside the room, Nathan grabbed Marcus's arm.
“Don't come back.”
Marcus pulled free.
“You don't control me.”
“No. But I know about the eight-point-four million.”
Marcus went pale.
Nathan stepped closer.
“And I know about Dr. Cross.”
Marcus stared at him.
“You don't understand what you're looking at.”
“Then explain.”
Marcus lowered his voice.
“Cross isn't working for me.”
“Who is he working for?”
Marcus glanced toward Evelyn's room.
“You think I'm the villain because I left her.”
“You gave me plenty of evidence.”
“I left because someone told me if I stayed, she'd die before morning.”
Nathan became still.
“What?”
Marcus swallowed.
“I got a message.”
“Show me.”
“I deleted it.”
“Of course.”
“I panicked.”
“Who sent it?”
“Unknown number.”
Nathan grabbed his shirt.
“What did it say?”
Marcus looked into his eyes.
STAY WITH EVELYN AND SHE DIES TONIGHT. WALK AWAY AND SHE GETS ANOTHER CHANCE.
Nathan released him.
“Why didn't you tell her?”
“Because whoever sent it knew what room she was in.”
Nathan looked toward the door.
“Who else knew?”
“Cross.”
Nathan's phone vibrated.
Reeves.
Nathan answered.
“Cole.”
“We found Cross.”
“Where?”
“You're not going to like it.”
“Tell me.”
“He's dead.”
Nathan looked at Marcus.
“When?”
“Approximately six hours ago.”
“How?”
“Car accident.”
Nathan closed his eyes.
Too convenient.
Reeves continued.
“And Cole?”
“Yes?”
“We recovered his phone.”
Nathan waited.
“His last outgoing message was sent to Evelyn Sterling.”
Nathan's blood chilled.
“What did it say?”
Reeves read it.
IF I DIE, THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE IS ALREADY INSIDE STERLING GLOBAL.
Nathan looked through the window in Evelyn's door.
She sat alone.
Or appeared to.
Then Nathan noticed movement behind the privacy curtain.
Someone was standing inside her room.
He reached for the handle.
It was locked from the inside.
May you like
The curtain moved again.
And Evelyn suddenly screamed...
