Chapter 7 - THE FILE MARKED LENA MERCER
The flash drive contained more than freight records.
Naomi's forensic specialist discovered an encrypted folder.
The password was hidden in Thomas Vaughn's ledger.
It was a date.
June seventeenth.
The day Roman's sister died.
Inside were medical invoices, foundation payments, and internal correspondence.
Tessa stared at the screen.
“Why would my father have records about Roman's sister?”
Naomi frowned.
“Because the Mercer Foundation paid for several medical programs.”
The records showed that funds intended for pediatric cardiac care had been diverted through fake vendors.
Some transactions occurred years earlier.
Others continued after Lena's death.
Tessa looked at Roman.
His face had gone white.
“These were her programs,” he whispered.
Naomi nodded.
Roman stared at the documents.
“I created the foundation because of her.”
Tessa's chest tightened.
He looked away.
“And someone used it.”
The records connected the foundation to Vane's companies.
But there was another signature.
One Tessa recognized from the photograph.
Grant Holloway.
Roman's longtime security chief.
The man who had reached inside his jacket when Tessa threatened Roman.
Roman stared at the signature.
For a long moment, he said nothing.
Then he picked up his phone.
“Grant.”
His voice was calm.
“Come to my office.”
Grant arrived twenty minutes later.
He looked from Roman to Tessa.
Then to Naomi.
“What is this?”
Roman placed the documents on the desk.
“Explain.”
Grant examined them.
His expression changed.
“Where did you get these?”
Roman didn't answer.
Grant looked toward Tessa.
“Her father.”
Tessa felt cold.
Roman stepped forward.
“Did you know Thomas Vaughn was fired?”
Grant said nothing.
“Did you authorize the surveillance on his family?”
Silence.
Then Grant slowly exhaled.
“You don't understand.”
Roman's eyes hardened.
“Then help me.”
Grant looked toward the door.
And Tessa realized he was afraid.
Not of Roman.
Of someone else.
Grant whispered:
“Vane isn't the one running this.”
Roman went still.
“Who is?”
Grant swallowed.
May you like
Then said a name that made Roman's expression collapse.
“Your uncle.”
