Chapter 9 - THE NIGHT ADRIAN DISAPPEARED
Adrian Cross vanished on a Sunday evening.
His apartment was empty.
His phone was disconnected.
His car was found in a parking garage near the Hudson River.
Detective Ruiz called Evelyn.
“When did you last speak to him?”
“Three weeks ago.”
“Did he mention leaving town?”
“No.”
Ruiz hesitated.
“We believe he may have information relevant to the Crosswell investigation.”
Evelyn closed her eyes.
“Is he in danger?”
“We don't know.”
She called Lucien.
He answered immediately.
“Evelyn?”
“Adrian is missing.”
Silence.
Then:
“I heard.”
She swallowed.
“Can you help?”
Lucien hesitated.
Then said:
“I can share what I know with Ruiz.”
Evelyn closed her eyes.
“Thank you.”
The investigation led to a storage facility in Queens.
Adrian had rented a unit under a false name.
Inside, authorities found copies of financial records and a handwritten note.
The note contained one sentence.
Sloane knows about the children.
Ruiz stared at the paper.
“What children?”
The answer came two days later.
Crosswell Capital had been using a network of fraudulent charities to divert money intended for children's medical programs.
Several organizations had never received promised donations.
Others had been used to disguise payments to shell companies.
Evelyn felt sick.
She had organized charity events for some of those foundations.
She remembered smiling donors.
Children's photographs.
Emotional speeches.
Millions pledged.
And somewhere behind the applause, money had disappeared.
Adrian had discovered the fraud.
He had copied the records.
Then hidden them on Evelyn's laptop.
Victor Sloane had threatened him.
And Adrian had ended the engagement to keep Evelyn away from the investigation.
But he had also continued using her company without her knowledge.
His fear had not made him innocent.
It had made him dangerous in a different way.
Evelyn sat in Ruiz's office.
“Where is Adrian?”
Ruiz looked tired.
“We're still looking.”
Evelyn stared at the note.
Then whispered:
“Please find him.”
May you like
She no longer wanted him back.
But she didn't want him dead.
