Chapter 8 - The Account in His Name.
Daniel replayed the final sentence five times.
Each time it sounded worse.
"My private account isn't receiving anything."
Priya closed the audio file.
"Then we verify it."
Daniel logged into his personal banking portal.
His checking, savings, investment, and trust accounts appeared normal.
No unexplained deposits.
Priya leaned closer.
"Do you have accounts under family entities?"
"Several trusts."
"Any you don't actively manage?"
Daniel thought of the dozens of structures created by lawyers after Henry's death.
"Probably."
Priya gave him a flat look.
"That's a dangerous answer for a billionaire."
"I'm learning that."
They returned to Mercer Holdings after midnight and went directly to the private finance archive.
Daniel used his authority to request all accounts in which he was listed as owner, beneficiary, trustee, or controlling party.
The search produced forty-three records.
Forty-two were familiar.
The forty-third was not.
MERCER COMMUNITY RESERVE II.
The account had been opened nine years earlier under a trust bearing Daniel's tax identification details.
Henry was listed as original trustee.
Julian Cross was listed as administrative signatory.
After Henry died, control automatically transferred to Daniel.
Daniel had never been told it existed.
The balance was $7.8 million.
Priya stared at the screen.
"That's not a rounding error."
Daniel opened the transaction history.
Hundreds of deposits flowed into the account from development-linked charities and consulting entities.
Many originated from Bright Steps.
Many were routed through Northstar.
The withdrawals were even more troubling.
Money had paid private aviation bills, a yacht lease, club memberships, and luxury property expenses.
All were expenses someone could easily associate with Daniel's lifestyle.
"I don't own a yacht."
"The invoices say you lease one."
"I don't."
"That's the point."
Priya sounded grim.
Daniel understood.
Someone had not simply stolen money.
Someone had built a financial story that made Daniel look like the thief.
His name, his tax data, his company, his father's trust, and his executive credentials all pointed in the same direction.
If regulators opened the account tomorrow, Daniel would look guilty before he said a word.
"Who receives the withdrawals?"
Priya asked.
Daniel traced the transfers.
Most passed through corporate vendors with generic names.
One repeated recipient stood out.
SABLE HARBOR MANAGEMENT.
Priya searched the corporate database.
The company was registered in Delaware through a law firm.
Daniel recognized the law firm immediately.
Cross, Voss & Ellery.
Julian's late brother had founded it.
"There."
Daniel pointed at the screen.
Priya shook her head.
"Related isn't enough."
"It's enough for me."
"Not for prosecutors."
"I'm not waiting for prosecutors to rescue three children."
His phone rang.
Lily's number.
Daniel answered immediately.
"Lily?"
No one spoke.
He heard breathing.
Then a man's voice.
"You should have left the locker alone."
Daniel stood so fast the chair hit the floor.
"Curtis."
"Smart."
"Where is Lily?"
"Safe for the moment."
Daniel's vision narrowed.
"If you touch her-"
"You really need to stop threatening people while sitting on eight million dollars of stolen housing funds."
Daniel glanced at Priya.
She was already tracing the call through internal software.
"What do you want?"
"The drive."
"Where is Rachel?"
Curtis laughed softly.
"Your sister causes problems."
"Is she alive?"
"Bring the drive and maybe you'll find out."
"I want to hear Lily."
There was movement.
Then Lily's voice came through, angry rather than crying.
"Don't give him anything."
"Lily, are Noah and Ruby with you?"
"Yes."
"Are you hurt?"
"No."
Curtis took the phone back.
"Enough."
Daniel forced himself to breathe.
"Where?"
"Bell Street."
"I'm coming."
"Alone."
The call ended.
Priya looked at him.
"You're not going alone."
"He has the children."
"Which is why you're not going alone."
"If he sees police-"
"I didn't say police."
She copied the flash drive onto an encrypted device.
Then she handed Daniel the original.
"You give him this if you have to."
"What's on it now?"
"Everything that was there."
"Then why copy it?"
"Because I don't trust dramatic men with irreplaceable evidence."
Daniel almost smiled.
He didn't.
They drove separately.
Priya parked two blocks away and entered through the rear alley.
Daniel approached the front entrance alone.
The hanging bulb upstairs was dark.
He found Curtis on the third floor in what had once been a laundry room.
Lily, Noah, and Ruby sat against the wall.
Their wrists were not tied, but Curtis stood between them and the door.
He held no weapon this time.
That made Daniel more nervous.
"The drive."
Curtis extended his hand.
Daniel held it up.
"Rachel first."
"You don't negotiate well."
"Neither do you."
Curtis smiled.
"You think Julian is behind this."
"I know he is."
"No, you know he lies."
"What's the difference?"
"A big one."
Lily watched Curtis closely.
"Tell him where my mom is."
Curtis glanced at her.
"Your mother made choices."
"You're scared of her."
Curtis's smile disappeared.
Lily lifted her chin.
"That's why you took us."
Daniel saw something in Curtis's face he had not seen before.
Fear.
Not of Daniel.
Of Rachel.
"What did she take from you?"
Daniel asked.
Curtis looked toward the doorway behind Daniel.
"More than the drive."
A floorboard creaked in the hall.
Curtis reached inside his jacket.
Daniel moved instinctively toward the children.
Priya entered from the side doorway with her phone raised, recording.
"Hands where I can see them."
Curtis froze.
Then every light in the building went out.
Ruby screamed.
Daniel heard running footsteps.
He reached for Lily in the darkness.
His hand found the white styrofoam container instead.
Lily had been holding it against her chest again.
She pushed it into his hands.
May you like
"Don't lose it."
Then someone struck Daniel from behind.
