Chapter 6 - THE WOMAN WHO DISAPPEARED AT THE PORT
Eleven years earlier, Elena DeLuca had worked as a financial investigator.
She had been determined to build a career outside her family's criminal reputation.
She discovered suspicious shipping transactions connected to Whitmore Maritime.
Several containers were listed as industrial equipment.
But their weights and routing patterns didn't match the manifests.
Elena contacted Thomas Hayes.
He agreed to help her investigate.
Then she disappeared.
Roman had always believed his sister was taken because of his enemies.
Now he understood that she may have been targeted because of something she discovered.
Genevieve stared at the photograph.
"Did my father know what happened to her?"
Margaret shook her head.
"He spent years trying to find out."
Roman looked toward the window.
For a moment, he seemed unable to speak.
Then he asked:
"What was in the containers?"
Margaret hesitated.
"Your father believed they contained people."
Genevieve felt sick.
The room went silent.
Julian leaned forward.
"Do you have supporting records?"
Margaret nodded.
"Thomas kept copies of manifests and internal communications."
Roman's jaw tightened.
For years, he'd believed Elena disappeared because she was related to him.
Now it appeared she had been trying to expose a trafficking operation.
Genevieve looked at him.
"I'm sorry."
Roman shook his head.
"You didn't do this."
She swallowed.
"But my fiancé's family—"
"Your former fiancé."
She looked up.
Roman's expression softened.
"You ran before the ceremony. You didn't marry him."
For the first time since the cathedral, Genevieve felt a small measure of relief.
Then Margaret turned another page.
A list of names appeared.
One name was highlighted.
Harrison Witmore.
May you like
Beside it was a handwritten note from Thomas Hayes.
The judge controls the protection.
