Chapter 5 - THE WOMAN BEHIND THE SMOKED GLASS
The next morning, Damian introduced me to a woman named Evelyn Shaw.
She was a former federal investigator who now worked as an independent corporate compliance consultant.
She had short dark hair, sharp eyes, and the kind of calm that made nervous people talk too much.
She studied me.
“Chloe Reed.”
I nodded.
“Yes.”
Evelyn placed a folder on the table.
“I knew your father.”
My chest tightened.
“You did?”
She nodded.
“He was one of the best investigators I ever worked with.”
I looked down.
She continued.
“He was careful. Honest. And stubborn.”
I smiled sadly.
“That sounds like him.”
Evelyn opened the folder.
Inside was a photograph of a woman in a silver dress.
The same woman I'd seen at the casino table.
“Do you recognize her?”
I nodded.
“She was sitting behind Marcus.”
Evelyn leaned forward.
“Her name is Natalie Pierce.”
Natalie was a financial intermediary.
She moved money through private investment accounts.
She'd worked with Marcus for years.
But three weeks earlier, she'd contacted Evelyn.
She wanted immunity.
Protection.
A way out.
“She says Marcus is planning to disappear,” Evelyn explained.
I frowned.
“Then why was she at the casino?”
Evelyn looked at Damian.
“Because she was supposed to witness his death.”
The room went quiet.
Natalie had been instructed to confirm that Damian was dead.
Then help transfer control of several companies to Marcus.
I stared.
“And what happened after I stopped him?”
Evelyn smiled faintly.
“Marcus panicked.”
Damian looked at me.
“You ruined fifteen years of planning in three seconds.”
I didn't smile.
“My father spent years trying to stop him.”
Damian nodded.
“I know.”
Evelyn continued.
“Natalie is willing to testify. But she says Marcus has something else.”
I swallowed.
“What?”
“A list.”
I stared.
“A list of what?”
Evelyn looked at Damian.
“People who helped him cover up the warehouse fire.”
Damian's face hardened.
May you like
Evelyn continued.
“And one of those names belongs to someone currently inside Damian's organization.”
