Chapter 6 - THE EVIDENCE HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT
Enzo arrived at Brennan's within the hour.
Adeline showed him the receipt.
The tiny sleeve.
The memory card.
Silvano examined it carefully.
"Don't insert it into a personal device," he said.
Adeline nodded.
"I haven't."
The card was transferred to a qualified forensic specialist.
Its contents were preserved.
Examined.
And documented.
By evening, the results were devastating.
The card contained copies of financial records.
Emails.
Property acquisition plans.
And internal messages connecting Preston Cain to a broader scheme.
Enzo stared at the screen.
"How much?"
Silvano swallowed.
"Millions."
The records suggested Cain had diverted funds through shell companies while using redevelopment projects to conceal the transfers.
Several properties had been targeted not because they were unprofitable, but because forcing tenants out would make them easier to sell.
One message mentioned Brennan's.
Another referenced a bookstore.
Then a bakery.
Then a residential building.
Enzo's expression darkened.
"How many families?"
Silvano looked down.
"Potentially dozens."
Adeline sat quietly.
She had found the card by accident.
But she understood what it meant.
People had lost businesses.
Homes.
Savings.
Because someone powerful had decided they were disposable.
Enzo looked at her.
"You did the right thing."
She shook her head.
"I almost threw the receipt away."
"But you didn't."
Later, Adeline asked:
"Why did Cain have the wallet?"
Silvano explained that the wallet belonged to a financial intermediary who had been collecting evidence against Cain.
The intermediary had apparently hidden the card behind the receipt before losing the wallet.
Cain had recovered the wallet through Adeline but failed to find the card.
Enzo looked at the evidence.
Then at Adeline.
"You may have saved more people than you realize."
Her eyes filled.
That night, Cain received another call.
The voice on the other end was furious.
"They have the card."
Cain stared.
"How?"
"We don't know."
A pause.
Then:
"Find the woman."
Cain's blood ran cold.
May you like
"Which woman?"
"The one who returned the wallet."
