Chapter 3 - THE FIANCÉ WHO SOLD MY FUTURE
Nathan Cross had once promised to love me through anything.
Apparently, anything didn't include unemployment.
When Halden Mercer fired me, Nathan lasted seventeen days.
He packed his belongings while I was at the hospital with my father.
He left his engagement ring on the kitchen counter beside a note explaining that he needed a partner whose life wasn't constantly falling apart.
For two years, I had imagined what I might say if I saw him again.
None of those imaginary conversations included organized crime.
The next morning, I called Adrian.
"Nathan Cross."
There was a pause.
"What about him?"
"He was photographed with Oliver Grant the night Oliver disappeared."
"How do you know Cross?"
I closed my eyes.
"We were engaged."
Silence.
Then Adrian said, "Come to the office."
"No."
"Claire—"
"I'm going to investigate first."
"He's dangerous."
"So is everybody in your contact list."
Adrian exhaled.
"Fair point."
I spent the afternoon tracing Nathan's professional history.
After leaving me, he'd joined a private equity firm called Northbridge Capital.
Northbridge had acquired minority interests in distressed industrial properties throughout Illinois.
Several properties had once belonged to companies Adrian controlled.
The transactions looked legitimate.
Until I compared their timing.
Each acquisition followed an unexplained financial loss.
Someone was weakening Adrian's companies and buying their assets at discounted prices.
The fraud wasn't merely theft.
It was a hostile takeover disguised as financial collapse.
That evening, I visited my father.
Thomas Bennett lived in a rehabilitation apartment overlooking a small courtyard.
His speech had improved since the stroke, but his right hand still trembled when he lifted a coffee cup.
"You're smiling," he said.
"Am I?"
"A little."
"I found some work."
"Accounting?"
I nodded.
His face brightened.
"Good."
I hadn't realized how badly I needed that reaction.
Then his smile faded.
"Be careful."
I sat beside him.
"Why?"
He hesitated.
"Your old boss called."
My entire body went still.
"Daniel?"
"Yesterday."
"What did he want?"
"Asked whether you were doing better."
I stared at him.
"Did he say anything else?"
My father looked toward the window.
"He said some people never learn when to stop looking."
I left immediately.
In the parking lot, I called Adrian.
This time, I didn't argue when he offered to send someone.
Twenty minutes later, a woman in a navy coat approached my car.
"Claire Bennett?"
"Yes."
"Naomi Brooks."
She showed me a police badge.
"Chicago Police Department."
My pulse jumped.
"Am I under arrest?"
"No."
She glanced toward the street.
"But I need you to understand something."
"Which is?"
"Adrian Vale isn't the only person investigating Raymond Keller."
I stared at her.
May you like
Naomi lowered her voice.
"And if you're smart, you won't tell Adrian we spoke."
