Once Upon a Lie

Chapter 3: Unraveling the Lies

Lena crouched above the coffee table, papers and papers of documents and financial documents that covered the surface like a puzzle. The strain of having gone through names, numbers, shell corporations got to her eyes but not her spirit. The further the auditor went into the empire of Richard Dalton, the more they seem to find skeletons. Offshore accounts, fake corporations, money trails leading to nowhere—it all pointed to one truth: Dalton had planned his crime very carefully, it was flawless to the utmost degree.

But as in any person, perfection had its flaws.

“We are about to reach it,” Alex said from across the table. The screen of his laptop showed lines of encoded information that took them days to decipher. “The more I think about these transactions the more I convinced myself that Dalton was never alone in doing this. There is no way he could establish all these accounts all by himself; someone inside the company had to help him set up these accounts.

Lena stared at the documents on the table fixing her face but her body language spoke volumes. “We already knew that, Alex. What is not known is who the ‘someone,’ mentioned in the context is.”

“Wilkes was the key,” Alex said almost to himself, as nervousness caused his fingers to drum rapidly against the table. “But he’s gone – vanished into thin air. If we can find him—”

“Eh, don’t hold your breath,” Lena exclaimed interrupting him and her voice sounded harsher than she wanted it to be. “He’s probably long gone. Or worse.”

Alex did not say anything as his jaws clenched. He did not expect this from Lena – She was once a friendly, warm woman but now she was like a blade – and her heart was in a cage of ice. But he had no right to protest. Not after what he’d done.

Lena continued to dig through the financial records, but something gnawed at her. The feeling that they were been watched, that somebody was following their every step. It’s a quiet dread which had unfolded since they restarted the case—a kind of whisper that put her up night.

“Lena,” Alex said, breaking the silence. “Are you okay?”

She didn’t look at him. “Fine.”

“You don’t seem fine.”

Lena closed a folder, finally looking at him, her temper rising at last. I don’t have time to seem anything. We need to focus.”

Before Alex could answer that statement the sound of a ring interrupted them both. Lena’s instinct was telling her that something was not right; her heart skipped a beat. She picked the phone from the table, angrily.

“Hello?”

There was no reply from the other end, followed by the unmistakable click of someone hanging up.

Lena’s stomach twisted. Holding the phone in her hand she was deep in thoughts. This was not the first time she received a weird call in the last few days. She found out that every time she attempted to pursue the number it would lead her nowhere.

‘We need to be careful,’ she said to herself than to Alex.

“What was that?” Alex’s eyebrows drawing together as he asked.

“Just… nothing.” This sense of being constantly watched, this shiver that crawled under Lena’s skin refused to leave her alone; she pushed the phone aside and tried to concentrate on something else.

Later That Night

Lena tried to look at the wreck which used to be her home, but she couldn’t bear the darkness of her apartment. Doors had been opened and closets ransacked and her belongings turned upside down on the floor. She held her breath and felt her heart fluttering, a feeling of panic rising over her chest.

Someone had broken in.

Alex arrived within minutes, his eyes darting all over the wreckage while the muscles in his face were tight. “Are you sure nothing is missing?”

Lena managed to compose herself enough to firmly say, “Nothing important.” That’s not the point, Alex. They were here. They went through my things.”

In response Alex rubbed the back of the head, nervously pacing over the house. “This isn’t a junkie messing around. This was clearly done to intimidate you.” They’re warning us off.”

Lena folded her arms, her lips tightened. “It won’t work.”

“I know it won’t,” answered Alex looking at her. He looked directly into her eyes and the intensity disappeared from his face. But I’m worried about you, Lena” You shouldn’t be here alone.”

“I am not helpless,” she counter snapped at him. I came across one that said, “I’ve been handling myself just fine for the last five years without you.”

“I am not saying that you cannot defend yourself,” Alex said in what could hardly pass for irritation. “But this is different. These people… they will not have a second thought attacking you if you are close to the truth.

Lena’s temper flared. “Then why did you leave me to face them alone back then? Why didn’t you believe me when it mattered?”

Alex took a deep breath, this was exactly what he was afraid of; as if he had just been punched in the stomach. He wanted to say something but Lena just stopped him.

He wondered why she never remarried and then remembered the words she directed at him, as she shook with emotion: “You walked away, Alex.” Far from believing in me—you betrayed me: you left me when I most needed you. Now, you come back and assume you can shield me?”

Alex let out a sigh full of guilt as his shoulders fell down. “Lena, I know I screwed up. Needless to say, I am aware that there is no way I can turn the clock back and reverse what was done. But I’m here now, trying to correct the problem.”

Lena’s voice dripped sarcasm as she laughed unpleasantly, “oh, you are trying to make things right, is it for you or for me?”

Alex gazed at her, his eyes pleading. “For you. I swear it’s for you.”

She didn’t want to hear it. She looked away quickly, doing her best not to cry. “It’s too late, Alex. I don’t need your protection. I need justice.”

There was a moment of dead air that said it all – there was so much hatred and pain still left unresolved. But deep down, the flame seemed to burn brightly. A pull neither of them could deny, no matter how hard they tried. And in one second, even regardless of the fact that the two characters are divided by the walls, something shifted. Something dangerous.

Alex’s phone rang before either of them could speak again. He took it, anger flashing into his face when he saw the message on the screen.

“It’s another warning,” the man reiterated tightly. “Get your hands off the case or else.”

Lena’s heart pounded. The threat felt more real now—more personal. There was an eye on them, someone, who was just waiting for them to make their first mistake.

“I think we are getting too close,” she whispered as her heartbeat increased. “They know that we are doing something significant.”

The Next Day

Lena and Alex got to the small diner at the outskirts of the city — the place of the next lead. They were eventually able to locate one of Dalton’s old accountants – a man that had been in close contact with Wilkes. He had agreed to meet them, ready to tell the truth about the offshore accounts and the embezzlement path that will lead right to Dalton.

But even as they drove into the parking lot Lena saw herself getting a queasy feeling in her stomach.

Everyone had left the diner except some usual customers but something felt off. Too quiet. Too still.

They located the accountant; he was seated in a booth, his head resting on the table. Alex extended his hand toward the man touching the man’s shoulder lightly.

“Hey, wake up—”

But he didn’t move. His body was limp.

The smile slipped off Alex’s face and bending lower, he felt for any pulse on her neck. “Lena, call 911,” he said, sounding tense. “Now.”

Lena bent forward at the waist, her stomach turning somersaults, as she felt for her phone in her pocket. She could literally feel the firm clasp of panic around her throat.

In several minutes paramedics came, the diagnosis was the worst.

“He’s dead,” said one, his words devoid of any further contention. “Looks like a suicide.”

But Lena knew better. It was something that she could physically sense at the marrow of her bones.

“This wasn’t a suicide,” she repeated, her words barely audible, and full of the fear that settled in her chest. “Someone killed him.”

Alex swallowed a lump in his throat and joined his fists tightly. “They are covering their tracks. They knew he was going to talk.”

Lena stared at the lifeless body of the man who could’ve been their key to taking down Dalton. The one person who could have cleared her name, silenced forever. The walls were closing in, and the stakes had just skyrocketed.

“We’re running out of time,” Lena whispered. “They’re going to come for us next.”

As Lena and Alex stepped onto the road in their car, Lena’s phone rang. She glanced at the screen, her blood running cold at the message that appeared:

“You’re next.”

The threat was clear. They weren’t just investigating anymore. They were in the crosshairs.