Chapter 9 - THE FIFTEENTH MAN
Fourteen members of Meridian Strategies had been located.
Some were cooperating with investigators.
Others had retained attorneys.
But the fifteenth man remained missing.
His name was Daniel Cross.
He had worked as a hospital security consultant.
And he had accessed Margaret Bennett's medical records without authorization.
Kate learned this from Naomi.
Her stomach tightened.
“He was the one who took the photograph?”
“Investigators believe so.”
Damon looked at the report.
“Where is he?”
Naomi shook her head.
“Unknown.”
That evening, Kate received a message.
Unknown number.
I didn't know they were going to hurt you.
She stared.
Another message arrived.
I can prove what Whitcomb ordered.
Kate forwarded both messages to Naomi.
Investigators arranged a controlled meeting.
Daniel Cross appeared the following afternoon at a federal building.
He looked exhausted.
He surrendered his phone and records.
His testimony revealed that Ethan had instructed Meridian to monitor Kate and her mother.
The intimidation plan had been designed to force Margaret into surrendering any surviving trust documents.
But Daniel also had evidence of something more serious.
Financial transfers linking Meridian to the diverted trust assets.
When investigators reviewed the records, they found that the stolen money had continued moving for decades.
Through charities.
Consulting firms.
Real estate holdings.
And political organizations.
The scandal was no longer about one senator's son.
It was about a system built to protect powerful people from consequences.
Kate sat beside her mother that evening.
Margaret held her hand.
“Are you afraid?” she asked.
Kate nodded.
“Terrified.”
Margaret smiled.
“Good.”
Kate frowned.
“Good?”
May you like
Her mother squeezed her hand.
“Then you're doing something brave.”
