Chapter 24 - The First File
Rachel clicked the folder.
Hundreds of documents appeared.
The earliest dated back almost nine years.
Emma whispered,
"That's before I even met you."
Vanessa leaned closer.
"So it started long before me too."
Rachel opened the first spreadsheet.
Names.
Companies.
Wire transfers.
Account numbers.
Nothing appeared illegal at first glance.
Then she noticed another column.
"Coded initials."
Laura frowned.
"What do they represent?"
Mark answered quietly.
"People who couldn't appear officially."
Rachel looked at him.
"Hidden investors?"
"No."
"Partners?"
"No."
He hesitated.
"Middlemen."
The room fell silent.
Rachel opened another document.
It contained scanned passports from several countries.
Vanessa immediately recognized one face.
"I've met him."
She looked toward Mark.
"You introduced him as a logistics consultant."
"He wasn't."
"What was he?"
Mark hesitated again.
"He connected money."
Rachel slowly closed the laptop.
"I think we've seen enough for tonight."
Emma looked confused.
"Why stop now?"
Rachel answered honestly.
"Because the more I read..."
"...the less this looks like ordinary financial fraud."
Laura noticed something tucked between two digital files.
"A photograph."
Rachel opened it.
It showed Mark standing beside three unidentified men at a luxury marina several years earlier.
Nothing unusual...
...except for the fourth person standing slightly behind them.
Laura stared at the face.
"I know him."
Everyone turned toward her.
"You do?"
She nodded slowly.
"He came to our house once."
Mark looked horrified.
"He should never have known where we lived."
Laura continued studying the photograph.
"He wasn't introduced by name."
"What did you call him?"
Mark answered in barely more than a whisper.
"I never used his real name."
Rachel looked at the image again.
"What did you call him?"
Mark slowly closed his eyes.
"...Mr. Black."
Outside...
The engine of the black SUV started once more.
But instead of driving away...
May you like
It rolled slowly toward the front entrance of the building.
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