Chapter 4 - THE FIRST TWELVE MILLION
The transfer had happened twenty-three minutes earlier.
Twelve million dollars had been moved from Reed Capital’s emergency reserve account into three overseas holding companies.
Mark called his chief financial officer.
No answer.
He called again.
Nothing.
Then he called security at the company headquarters.
The night manager answered immediately.
“Mr. Reed?”
“Find Robert Keller.”
There was a pause.
“Mr. Keller left about an hour ago.”
“With whom?”
“Alone, sir.”
“Did he take anything?”
Another pause.
“A laptop bag and two archive boxes.”
Mark closed his eyes.
Robert Keller had served as Reed Capital’s chief financial officer for eight years.
He had attended Daniel’s funeral.
He had held Noah at the memorial reception.
He had sat at Mark’s table every Christmas.
Sarah watched Mark’s expression become something harder than anger.
“Freeze every account Robert can access.”
“I will contact the banking team.”
“Now.”
Mark ended the call.
Sarah said quietly, “Victoria did not do this alone.”
“No.”
“Do you trust Mr. Keller?”
“I did.”
Mark paced the room.
Then he stopped.
“I need to get Noah out of this house.”
Sarah nodded.
“I agree.”
Mark called his head of security, Evan Cole.
Within fifteen minutes, two armored SUVs were waiting at the rear entrance.
Mark packed a small bag for Noah himself.
Sarah gathered bottles, diapers, formula, blankets, and medication.
Mrs. Patterson watched them nervously.
“Where are you going?”
“A secure property outside the city.”
Mark looked at her.
“Tell no one.”
Mrs. Patterson crossed herself.
“What is happening?”
“I do not know yet.”
Mark lifted Noah from the crib.
The baby stirred.
His small hand curled around Mark’s shirt.
For the first time that night, the powerful businessman looked frightened.
Sarah noticed.
Not frightened for himself.
For the child.
They moved through the back hallway.
Evan opened the SUV door.
Sarah climbed inside beside Noah.
Mark entered after her.
The estate gates opened.
Rain covered the road.
They drove for ten minutes before Evan’s voice came through the radio.
“We have a vehicle behind us.”
Mark looked through the rear window.
A black sedan followed at a distance.
“Company car?”
“No.”
“Lose it.”
The driver turned sharply onto a service road.
The sedan followed.
Then another vehicle appeared ahead.
The road narrowed between trees.
Sarah clutched Noah against her chest.
Mark reached beneath the seat and removed a locked emergency case.
Inside was a satellite phone.
He called 911.
Before the dispatcher answered, headlights flooded the SUV from behind.
The sedan accelerated.
Evan shouted through the radio.
“Brace!”
The black sedan struck the back of the SUV.
Noah woke screaming.
Sarah wrapped both arms around him.
The driver fought the wheel.
They swerved toward a ditch.
Mark grabbed the seat in front of him.
The sedan struck them again.
This time, Evan’s security vehicle moved between them.
Metal screamed against metal.
The attacking sedan spun sideways.
Mark’s SUV escaped down the road.
Police sirens approached in the distance.
Sarah looked back.
The sedan had stopped.
Its driver climbed out.
May you like
Under the road lights, she recognized the face.
It was Robert Keller.
