He Lost His Job, His Wife Left Him… Then He Found a Fortune He Forgot
Chapter 9
Collins confessed before Daniel could accuse him.
“I removed the page.”
Daniel stared.
“Why?”
“Your father asked me to.”
“When?”
“The night before he died.”
Daniel’s anger rose.
“You’ve been lying to me.”
“I was protecting you.”
“Everyone says that.”
Collins sighed.
“Your father knew the network would eventually come for you.”
“What was on the page?”
“The name of the man who controlled the accounts.”
“Who?”
Collins looked at Sarah.
Then at Daniel.
“Your father.”
Daniel froze.
“What?”
“Your father was the financial architect.”
Daniel stepped backward.
“No.”
“He built the system.”
“For criminals?”
“Not originally.”
Collins explained.
Daniel’s father had created a private financial network to help struggling businesses.
Voss had corrupted it.
Other powerful people had exploited it.
Daniel’s father discovered what was happening and began dismantling the network.
But by then, too many people depended on it.
He spent years gathering evidence.
The fortune was what remained.
Daniel shook his head.
“Why didn’t he go to the police?”
“Some of the police were involved.”
“Federal authorities?”
“He didn’t trust anyone.”
“So he hid everything?”
“Yes.”
“And left it to me?”
“Because he believed you would finish what he started.”
Daniel looked at the ledger.
“What’s missing?”
“The final transaction.”
“What does it prove?”
“That the network was never truly shut down.”
Daniel’s phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
Voss.
“You found it.”
Daniel said nothing.
“I know where you are.”
“Then come.”
Voss laughed.
“You don’t understand.”
“Understand what?”
“Your father’s fortune is only one part of the story.”
“What else?”
“Your father left another inheritance.”
Daniel waited.
“A list of protected witnesses.”
Daniel’s blood ran cold.
“Where?”
“That’s what your former boss wants.”
Daniel finally understood.
His old boss wasn’t interested in money.
He wanted the witnesses eliminated.
Because they could testify.
Voss continued.
“You have forty-eight hours.”
“For what?”
“Give us the list.”
“And if I don’t?”
“You lose everyone.”
The call ended.
Daniel looked at Sarah.
She already knew.
“This is bigger than us.”
“Yes.”
“What are you going to do?”
Daniel closed the ledger.
“Finish my father’s work.”
