CHAPTER 6 — THE MISSING FORTY MILLION
Marcus returned to the security office with Khloe’s words repeating in his head.
Someone has been stealing money from your company.
Detective Lena Brooks was questioning Victor Dane when Marcus entered.
Victor sat behind a metal table, still wearing the maintenance uniform.
His face remained calm.
Too calm.
Marcus slammed both palms on the table.
“Who are you working for?”
Victor leaned back.
“You pay my salary.”
“I trusted you with my family.”
“You trusted me to clean up your mistakes.”
Marcus grabbed the front of his uniform.
Detective Brooks pulled him away.
“Touch him again and you’ll be removed.”
Victor smiled.
“That temper is why this was so easy.”
Marcus stared at him.
“What was easy?”
“Making everyone believe you ordered it.”
Brooks placed the burner phone on the table.
“Who paid you?”
Victor looked at Marcus.
“Ask your wife.”
Marcus frowned.
“Khloe?”
“She found the accounts.”
“What accounts?”
Victor said nothing.
Brooks slid a photograph across the table. It showed stacks of cash from the SUV.
“This buys you serious prison time.”
Victor’s smile faded.
“Not as much as attempted murder.”
“Then help yourself.”
He glanced toward the one-way mirror.
“I want protection.”
“From whom?”
Victor leaned closer.
“Sebastian Thorne.”
Marcus’s older brother.
The company’s chief financial officer.
Marcus stepped back.
“That’s impossible.”
Victor laughed.
“You billionaires love that word.”
Sebastian had handled Thorne Global’s finances for eleven years. He had stood beside Marcus at the gala. He had toasted Khloe’s pregnancy.
Brooks studied Victor.
“What did Sebastian want?”
“The baby gone. Khloe discredited. Marcus emotionally unstable.”
“Why?”
“Because the board votes next week.”
Marcus felt cold.
The board planned to renew his position as chairman. If he became involved in a scandal involving an assaulted wife, an affair, and a dead child, Sebastian could call for his removal.
Victor continued.
“Khloe discovered forty million dollars missing from a hospital construction fund.”
Adrian’s face hardened.
“Money meant for sick children?”
Victor nodded.
“She confronted Sebastian yesterday.”
Marcus turned toward the door.
“Where is he now?”
Elaine answered from the hallway.
“He left the gala right after Khloe was taken upstairs.”
Detective Brooks grabbed her radio.
“Find Sebastian Thorne immediately.”
Marcus pulled out his phone.
Seventeen missed calls.
Three from his brother.
The final message had arrived six minutes earlier.
You should have listened when I told you Khloe was dangerous.
Then another message appeared.
A photograph.
Marcus opened it.
The image showed newborn Hope inside the NICU.
Taken from less than three feet away.
Beneath it was a sentence.
Your family has already cost me too much.
May you like
Marcus looked up in terror.
“He’s inside the hospital.”
