Chapter 17: Project Phoenix
481 Words
Rain hammered against the windows of Stone Global's headquarters as Alexander, Maya, Nathan, Jordan, and Detective Bennett gathered in the boardroom.
On the table lay a single file.
PROJECT PHOENIX
No one spoke.
Finally, Alexander broke the silence.
"Let's open it."
Jordan carefully untied the faded red ribbon around the file.
Inside were financial records, photographs, and a list of companies connected through hidden ownership.
"This is bigger than Stone Global," Jordan whispered.
Detective Bennett nodded.
"These companies control shipping, construction, technology, banking... even media."
Maya flipped through another section.
"Every company has one thing in common."
Alexander looked over her shoulder.
"They all received investments from the same offshore account."
Nathan's eyes narrowed.
"Our father's account?"
Jordan shook his head.
"No."
He pointed to another name.
"The account belongs to Richard Hale."
---
Hours passed as they connected the pieces.
The evidence painted a disturbing picture.
For nearly twenty years, Richard Hale had secretly built a financial empire using stolen company funds and corrupt business deals.
Anyone who discovered the truth either disappeared... or was silenced.
Maya suddenly noticed a handwritten note tucked inside the file.
She unfolded it.
It contained only one sentence.
"The final witness is still alive."
Detective Bennett frowned.
"Final witness?"
Nathan stood abruptly.
"I know who it is."
Everyone looked at him.
"Our father's chauffeur."
Alexander's eyes widened.
"Samuel?"
Nathan nodded.
"He was with Dad the night he died."
"I thought he passed away years ago."
"That's what everyone was told."
Nathan smiled faintly.
"He didn't die."
"I helped him disappear."
---
The next morning, the team traveled to a quiet fishing village several hours outside the city.
An elderly man sat on the porch of a small white cottage overlooking the sea.
As their car approached, he slowly stood.
His eyes filled with tears.
"Alexander..."
Alexander stepped forward.
"Samuel."
The old man embraced him tightly.
"I never thought I'd see you again."
Maya watched silently.
She could tell this reunion carried years of pain.
After everyone sat inside the cottage, Samuel reached beneath a loose floorboard and pulled out an old cassette recorder.
"I've been protecting this for twenty years."
Alexander stared at it.
"What is it?"
"The conversation your father recorded the night before he died."
The room fell silent.
Samuel pressed the play button.
Static filled the room.
Then a familiar voice spoke.
It was Alexander's father.
"If anything happens to me..."
Everyone leaned forward.
"...Richard Hale is responsible."
Alexander closed his eyes.
For twenty years, he had searched for proof.
Now...
He finally had it.
But before the recording could continue—
A gunshot shattered the cottage window.
Glass exploded across the room.
Samuel collapsed to the floor.
Maya screamed.
The recording rolled across the wooden floor as masked attackers surrounded the house.
Someone had found them.
And this time...
They had come to eliminate the last witness.
To be continued
- Writer
