Chapter 2 - The Name on the AccountI had never seen forty million dollars in my life.
I had never even seen forty thousand.
But Ethan Hayes was standing in front of me holding a document that said my name belonged to an account containing forty million dollars.
“I don’t understand,” I whispered.
Ethan stared at me.
“I believe you.”
Gregory stepped closer.
“You’re confused. She was never involved in any of that.”
Ethan didn’t look at him.
“Then why is her signature on every transfer?”
My heart pounded.
“My signature?”
He handed me the document.
I scanned the page.
There it was.
My full legal name.
Mara Bennett.
The signature underneath looked like mine.
But I had never signed it.
“There has to be a mistake.”
“There isn’t.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I’ve been trying to find this account for six years.”
I looked up.
“Why?”
Ethan hesitated.
Then he said quietly, “Because my brother died trying to expose it.”
Gregory’s face drained of color.
I noticed.
So did Ethan.
“What was his name?” I asked.
“Daniel Hayes.”
The name struck me with a strange familiarity.
I didn’t know why.
Gregory suddenly grabbed my arm.
“You need to leave.”
Ethan’s hand closed around Gregory’s wrist.
The movement was so fast I barely saw it.
“Take your hand off her.”
Gregory froze.
Ethan released him.
Then he turned to me.
“Who gave you this envelope?”
“Nobody.”
“Think.”
“I told you. I’ve never seen it before.”
He studied me.
“You’re telling the truth.”
Gregory laughed nervously.
“This is ridiculous.”
Ethan ignored him.
“Ms. Bennett, eight years ago my brother discovered a network of shell companies moving money through charities, real estate firms, and private trusts.”
“What does that have to do with me?”
“Everything.”
He pointed to the signature.
“This account was opened using your identity.”
“I was twenty-two.”
“Yes.”
“I was working at a coffee shop.”
“I know.”
“You know?”
Ethan’s expression darkened.
“I know because my brother met you.”
My breath stopped.
“Daniel knew me?”
“He wrote about you.”
Gregory stepped backward.
Ethan looked at him.
“Did you tell her?”
Gregory said nothing.
“What was my role?” I asked.
Ethan answered.
“Your identity was used as a legal shield.”
I stared at him.
“For what?”
“To hide the real owner.”
“Who?”
Ethan’s jaw tightened.
“We don’t know.”
“Then how do you know the account is real?”
“Because the money moved last month.”
My phone buzzed.
A message.
Unknown number.
YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE TO THE RESTAURANT.
I looked at Ethan.
He saw my face.
“What happened?”
I handed him the phone.
His eyes narrowed.
“Did anyone know you were coming here?”
“Gregory.”
Gregory immediately said, “I didn’t send that.”
Ethan looked at him.
Then another message arrived.
THE FILE YOU FOUND IS ONLY THE BEGINNING. ASK GREGORY WHO SIGNED THE ORIGINAL TRANSFER.
I turned toward Gregory.
“Who signed it?”
“No one.”
“Tell me.”
He looked terrified.
Ethan stepped beside me.
“You have ten seconds.”
Gregory’s breathing became shallow.
Finally he whispered four words.
“It was your mother.”
I froze.
“My mother is dead.”
“I know.”
Ethan’s expression changed.
“Your mother died nine years ago.”
Gregory nodded.
“But the transfer was signed eight years ago.”
Silence.
I felt the blood drain from my face.
Someone had forged my mother’s signature after her death.
Someone had forged mine.
And whoever they were had just sent me a message.
The next message arrived before I could speak.
YOUR SON IS NOT SAFE.
I dropped the phone.
Ethan caught it.
Then he looked at me.
“We’re leaving.”
“Where?”
“To find out who knows about your son.”
Outside, a black SUV was waiting.
But before Ethan opened the door, he stopped.
Across the street, a man in a gray coat was watching us.
The man lifted his phone.
Took a picture.
May you like
Then smiled.
End of Chapter 2.
