**The Man Behind the Camera**
The mysterious man finally contacted Daniel.
He arranged a meeting in an abandoned parking garage.
Daniel arrived alone.
The man stepped from the shadows.
He removed his hat.
"My name is Thomas Carter."
Daniel stared.
"Who are you?"
Thomas handed him a photograph.
It showed Emily's father standing beside Richard Vale.
And another man.
Daniel recognized him.
Emily's father's business partner.
"He's dead," Daniel said.
Thomas nodded.
"That's what everyone believes."
Daniel looked up.
"Where is he?"
Thomas pointed toward the photograph.
"He disappeared after your investigation began."
"Why were you following Emily?"
"To protect her."
Daniel didn't believe him.
Thomas continued.
"Her father knew Richard was stealing from him."
"He also discovered something worse."
"What?"
"Richard wasn't working alone."
Thomas gave Daniel a second photograph.
It showed several powerful businessmen.
One face stood out.
A respected judge.
Daniel's stomach tightened.
The same judge had been assigned to Emily's inheritance case.
The entire legal process had been compromised.
Thomas looked at him.
"Now you understand."
"This was never about one woman pushing another."
"It was about controlling an inheritance worth hundreds of
millions."
And the judge...
Was at the center of it.
