PART 12 — THE RECORDING THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
Jonathan drove with both hands locked around the steering wheel.
The windshield was cracked.
The passenger window was shattered.
Catherine held Chloe against her chest.
Her daughter was crying.
“Mommy, what's happening?”
Catherine kissed her forehead.
“Everything is going to be okay.”
But she didn't believe it.
Not anymore.
The road disappeared behind them as Jonathan turned onto a rural highway.
After several minutes, he pulled into an abandoned warehouse.
“We're staying here.”
Catherine looked around.
“Is this safe?”
“No place is safe.”
That answer terrified her.
Jonathan opened the metal box again.
“There may be something else inside.”
Catherine checked the contents.
The recorder.
The envelope.
Several documents.
Nothing else.
“That's everything.”
Jonathan shook his head.
“Your father was too careful to leave only one copy.”
He examined the bottom of the box.
Then pressed his thumb against a hidden seam.
A small compartment opened.
Inside was a memory card.
Catherine stared.
“What is that?”
“The backup.”
They found an old laptop in the warehouse.
Jonathan inserted the card.
Hundreds of files appeared.
Bank transfers.
Emails.
Photographs.
Medical documents.
And videos.
Catherine opened the first video.
Her father appeared on screen.
He looked exhausted.
Behind him was his study.
“I don't know how long I have.”
Catherine's eyes filled with tears.
“If you're watching this, Catherine, then someone failed to stop them.”
He leaned toward the camera.
“Listen carefully.”
The video changed.
A document appeared.
It showed payments from Victor Hale to multiple accounts.
One account belonged to Mark.
Another belonged to Teresa.
Then Catherine saw another name.
Her mother's.
But there was a fourth account.
She didn't recognize it.
“Whose account is that?”
Jonathan zoomed in.
“That's impossible.”
“What?”
He stared at the screen.
“That account belongs to you.”
Catherine froze.
“My account?”
“Yes.”
“That can't be.”
The account had been opened in her name eight years ago.
One month before her father's death.
She had never known about it.
Jonathan searched the transaction history.
Money had been transferred into it.
Millions.
Then immediately moved elsewhere.
Catherine's face went pale.
“Someone used my identity.”
Jonathan nodded.
“And your father knew.”
Another video began automatically.
Daniel appeared again.
“Catherine, if they ever accuse you of stealing from the company, do not believe them.”
She stared at the screen.
“They created evidence against you.”
Her breathing stopped.
“They are preparing to make you responsible for everything.”
Jonathan looked at her.
“That explains the attempted transfer.”
Catherine nodded slowly.
“They're not just stealing my company.”
“They're setting you up to take the blame.”
The next file contained emails.
Catherine recognized the sender.
Her attorney.
Messages between him and Victor.
One sentence stood out.
Once Catherine signs, everything can be transferred without suspicion.
Catherine covered her mouth.
Her attorney had planned it.
But there was more.
An email from Mark.
I can get her to sign.
Catherine closed her eyes.
She had loved him.
She had defended him.
She had trusted him.
And he had been planning her destruction.
Then Jonathan opened the final video.
Daniel looked directly into the camera.
“There is one person I never told Catherine about.”
He paused.
“My first wife.”
Catherine frowned.
“First wife?”
Jonathan looked confused.
“Your mother isn't your biological mother.”
Catherine's entire world stopped.
“What?”
Daniel continued.
“Catherine, I wanted to tell you years ago.”
The screen showed an old photograph.
A young woman.
Catherine stared at her face.
She looked strangely familiar.
“Who is she?”
Jonathan whispered:
“Her name was Evelyn.”
Daniel continued.
“Evelyn was your biological mother.”
Catherine couldn't breathe.
“She disappeared when you were two.”
The video showed another document.
A missing-person report.
Then Daniel said:
“She didn't abandon you.”
Catherine began crying.
“She was investigating Victor Hale.”
The video stopped.
Jonathan stared at the screen.
“That's why your father was killed.”
Catherine shook her head.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“My father was investigating Victor.”
“And your biological mother was too.”
Catherine looked at the photograph again.
“Where is she?”
Jonathan didn't answer.
He was staring at the final file.
A location appeared.
A hospital.
The name was clear.
ST. MARTHA'S MEDICAL CENTER.
Catherine grabbed her coat.
“We're going there.”
Jonathan shook his head.
“Catherine…”
“My mother lied about everything.”
“You don't know if Evelyn is alive.”
Catherine stared at him.
“Then I'm going to find out.”
They left the warehouse.
But neither noticed the small camera hidden above the door.
Someone was watching.
And somewhere across the city, Victor Hale received a message.
Catherine knows about Evelyn.
Victor smiled.
Then replied:
Find her before Catherine does.
