Chapter 4 - THE WOMAN IN THE RED COAT
Khloe called the police.
An officer took the report.
He suggested blocking the number.
She nearly laughed.
Then she called Dante.
He answered on the second ring.
“Varga.”
“It's Khloe Bennett.”
A pause.
“Are you safe?”
She looked through her apartment window.
“I don't know.”
“Tell me what happened.”
She described the suspicious transfers and threatening messages.
Dante remained silent.
When she finished, he said, “Don't send me the files.”
Khloe blinked.
“What?”
“If the transactions are criminal, they need to be preserved properly. Contact an attorney and the appropriate investigators.”
“You're telling me not to give evidence to the mafia?”
“Yes.”
“That may be the strangest thing anyone has ever said to me.”
“I've heard worse.”
Dante arranged for a lawyer experienced in financial whistleblower cases to contact her, while making clear that Khloe could choose her own counsel.
The next morning, Khloe met attorney Evelyn Shaw.
Evelyn was in her fifties, with silver hair and a voice that suggested she had never been intimidated by a conference room.
She examined the records.
Then looked at Khloe.
“This isn't ordinary embezzlement.”
“What is it?”
“Money laundering.”
Khloe felt sick.
Evelyn continued.
“And whoever is responsible has access to internal financial systems at several major companies.”
“Can we prove it?”
“Possibly.”
“Will I lose my job?”
“Maybe.”
Khloe swallowed.
Evelyn leaned forward.
“But we can take steps to protect your rights and preserve the evidence.”
Outside the attorney's office, Khloe noticed a woman in a red coat standing across the street.
The woman appeared to be watching her.
Khloe looked away.
When she looked back, the woman was gone.
That evening, an envelope appeared beneath her apartment door.
Inside was a photograph.
Khloe entering Evelyn's office.
May you like
On the back, someone had written:
DANTE VARGA CAN'T SAVE YOU.
