The Silent Witness

Chapter 9: The Missing Files

The book, when Sarah examined it carefully at the station, seemed completely normal at first. Photos of old buildings, historic monuments, and famous city landmarks filled its pages. But on the last page, hidden inside the back cover, David found something — a tiny memory card, taped carefully out of sight.

"Clever," David said, gently removing it. "He hid it in plain sight."

The memory card held copies of everything — bank transfers, emails between Richard and Faisal, and voice recordings Adam had secretly made in company meetings. In one recording, Richard's voice was clear, discussing how to move money without the board noticing.

"This is it," Sarah said, feeling a rush of excitement she hadn't felt in days. "This is enough to bring formal charges."

But as she prepared the files for the prosecutor's office, her phone rang. It was the prosecutor himself, his voice tense.

"Detective Ahmed, I need to see you immediately. There's a problem."

At his office, the prosecutor looked pale as he explained. "I got a call an hour ago. Someone offered me a large amount of money to slow down this case — to lose evidence, delay hearings, whatever it takes."

"Did they name Richard Cole?"

"No name. But it's obvious who has that kind of money and that kind of reach." He rubbed his forehead. "I refused, of course. But if they tried with me, they'll try with someone else. A judge. A witness. Maybe even you."

Sarah felt a cold certainty settle over her. This wasn't just about catching a killer anymore. It was about proving that money and power couldn't always buy silence.

"Then we move faster," she said. "Before he can reach anyone else."

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