Chapter12
295 Words
CHAPTER 12 — THE MONEY TRAIL
The investigation room remained illuminated long after midnight.
Stacks of bank statements covered the table. Screens displayed transaction maps connecting companies across Panama, Switzerland, the Cayman Islands, Nassau, and New Jersey.
At the center of it all was Eldridge Global.
But Alexander had discovered something disturbing.
The company was not the center.
It was the doorway.
“Look at this,” he said.
Clara moved closer.
A series of payments appeared on the screen.
Each one ended at a different company.
Different names.
Different countries.
But every account eventually transferred money into one private trust.
THE VANCE FAMILY FOUNDATION.
Clara stared at it.
“Marcus?”
Marcus stepped forward.
“That is impossible.”
Alexander shook his head.
“The foundation received more than eighty million dollars through intermediaries.”
Marcus’s jaw tightened.
“I never authorized those transactions.”
“I believe you.”
“Then who did?”
No one answered.
Alexander zoomed in.
Nu
There was one recurring authorization code.
A single digital signature.
AV-07.
Clara frowned.
“Arthur Vance?”
Marcus shook his head.
“No. Arthur’s code is AV-09.”
“Then who is AV-07?”
Alexander looked at the screen.
“I do not know.”
Suddenly, Clara’s phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
She answered.
No one spoke.
Then a distorted voice whispered:
“Stop following the money.”
Clara’s blood ran cold.
“Who is this?”
“You have already lost one family member.”
A pause.
“Do not lose another.”
The call ended.
Marcus immediately reached for his phone.
“Get security around Clara.”
Alexander stared at the transaction map.
“They know we are investigating.”
Clara looked at him.
“Then we make them nervous.”
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