The Missing Ten Million
The next morning, Ethan ordered a complete forensic audit of his company.
Robert Mason immediately objected.
“This is unnecessary.”
Ethan looked at him.
“Then you shouldn't have anything to worry about.”
Robert smiled.
“I don't.”
But Ethan noticed something.
Robert's hands were trembling.
The audit began.
Within six hours, investigators found irregularities.
Ten million dollars had disappeared.
The money had been transferred through a series of offshore accounts.
The transactions were hidden inside ordinary operating expenses.
Ethan stared at the report.
“Who approved these?”
The investigator pointed to the authorization code.
Robert Mason.
Ethan felt sick.
He confronted Robert privately.
“You stole ten million dollars.”
Robert laughed.
“You have no proof.”
Ethan placed the report on the table.
“We have everything.”
Robert's smile disappeared.
“You have no idea what you're involved in.”
“What does that mean?”
Robert leaned forward.
“Your father isn't protecting you.”
Ethan stared at him.
“He's protecting himself.”
“From what?”
Robert stood.
“Ask him what happened to Victor Hale.”
Ethan's eyes narrowed.
“You know where Victor is?”
Robert said nothing.
Then he walked away.
That evening, Ethan received a package.
No return address.
Inside was a USB drive.
A handwritten note said:
“Watch this alone.”
Ethan inserted it into a secure computer.
A video appeared.
The footage was old.
Grainy.
Date stamped October 14, 1998.
Victor Hale was sitting inside an office.
Across from him sat Ethan's mother.
She looked terrified.
Victor leaned toward her.
“You should have stayed out of this.”
She replied,
“You stole from the company.”
Victor smiled.
“I didn't steal anything.”
Then the video suddenly ended.
Ethan stared at the screen.
Someone had edited the footage.
But one detail remained.
A reflection in the office window.
Someone was standing behind the camera.
Someone who looked remarkably like...
Michael Harrison.
Ethan froze.
Was his father there?
Had Michael known what Victor was doing?
May you like
Or had Michael been part of it?
For the first time, Ethan began to question everything.
