Chapter 6 - The Woman Who Disappeared
By sunrise, Elena Park was officially missing.
Claire sat in a police interview room answering questions while corporate counsel waited outside.
When she finally returned to headquarters, news crews had gathered around the entrance.
Someone had leaked the story.
Not Northstar.
Not yet.
Only the disappearance of a former Whitmore Holdings employee.
But Claire understood what it meant.
The clock had started.
Victor Dane requested a private meeting that afternoon.
He entered Claire's office with the relaxed confidence of a man who had spent thirty years convincing rooms to trust him.
"Terrible business about Elena."
Claire looked at him.
"I didn't realize you knew her."
"I know many former employees."
"Do you?"
Victor smiled.
"I hear you're conducting an internal audit."
"Where did you hear that?"
"Boards have ears."
"So do walls."
His smile faded slightly.
"You're new to the CEO chair, Claire. Let me give you some advice."
"I'm listening."
"Don't confuse suspicion with evidence."
Claire thought of the ledger locked in outside counsel's evidence vault.
"What makes you think I suspect anything?"
Victor's eyes narrowed.
Then he smiled again.
"Good."
He stood.
"Your father would be proud."
Claire felt anger spark.
"Don't invoke my father."
Victor paused at the door.
"He understood that protecting a company sometimes requires accepting uncomfortable truths."
"Such as?"
"Not every problem should become public."
Then he left.
Claire called Maya.
"Pull everything on Victor Dane."
"How far back?"
"Until you reach his birth certificate."
Over the next forty-eight hours, the investigation widened.
Northstar wasn't alone.
There were six shell vendors.
Payments had been disguised as consulting fees, technology licensing, recruitment expenses, and overseas due diligence.
Total exposure exceeded thirty-one million dollars.
And Claire's forged signature appeared everywhere.
Friday evening, Julian appeared at her apartment.
Claire had moved out of their home the previous day.
"How did you find me?"
"Maya didn't."
"Then who?"
"I'm still your husband."
"For now."
The words hurt both of them.
Julian handed her an envelope.
"What's this?"
"Something you need."
Inside were photographs.
Victor meeting Chloe.
Chloe meeting two outside accountants.
And one photograph of Julian handing Victor a folder.
Claire looked up.
"Why are you giving me evidence against yourself?"
"Because I'm done."
"Done with what?"
"Being afraid."
Julian sat down.
He told her everything he could remember.
The first questionable payment.
Victor's pressure.
Chloe's growing control.
The forged approvals.
The threats.
Claire listened without comforting him.
When he finished, she asked only one question.
"Where is Elena?"
"I don't know."
"Did Chloe hurt her?"
"I don't know."
"Victor?"
"I don't know."
Claire studied him.
This time, she believed him.
Her phone rang.
Maya.
"We found Elena."
Claire stood instantly.
"Alive?"
"Yes."
Relief hit so strongly Claire had to grip the table.
"Where?"
"Police station."
Elena had hidden voluntarily after noticing someone following her.
She had spent two nights with an aunt outside the city before contacting investigators.
More importantly, she was ready to testify.
But when Claire met her later that night, Elena delivered another revelation.
"The ledger isn't complete."
Claire frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"There's another record."
"Where?"
Elena looked directly at Julian.
"He knows."
Julian's face changed.
Claire turned.
"What is she talking about?"
Julian didn't answer.
Elena did.
"The account where the money actually went."
Claire's stomach tightened.
"Whose account?"
May you like
Elena looked at Julian again.
"Ask your husband why twelve million dollars was transferred into a trust bearing your father's name."
