PART 5 — THE PERSON BEHIND ANDREW
I replayed the recording three times.
Every time, the same sentence echoed in my mind.
He is not acting alone.
Andrew wasn't acting alone.
Theresa wasn't the mastermind.
So who was?
Elena refused to answer.
“You need to hear the entire recording first.”
“The rest of it isn't here.”
“There is another copy.”
“Where?”
She looked toward me.
“With someone you know.”
My heart sank.
“Who?”
She shook her head.
“I can't tell you.”
“Why?”
“Because if I say the name, you may warn them without realizing it.”
That frightened me more than anything.
I returned to Germany.
Michael was waiting.
I handed him the cassette.
He listened.
Then he said:
“We need to assume everyone around you could be compromised.”
“Everyone?”
“Everyone.”
I thought about my employees.
My accountant.
My assistant.
Andrew's lawyer.
Even people I had known for years.
Then Michael placed a document on the table.
“We found the second company.”
“The one Andrew owns?”
“Yes.”
“What does it do?”
“Nothing.”
“Nothing?”
“It's a shell company.”
My eyes narrowed.
“What does it own?”
“Your money.”
I felt sick.
“How much?”
“Approximately eleven million dollars.”
I stared at him.
“Eleven million?”
“That's what we've traced so far.”
“And the rest?”
“We're still searching.”
I leaned back.
Then I noticed something.
“Wait.”
“What?”
“The company owns a property.”
Michael nodded.
“The house Theresa lives in.”
“Exactly.”
I suddenly understood.
The family vacation.
The house.
The company.
The money.
It wasn't about making Andrew rich.
It was about transferring my wealth somewhere I couldn't easily reach.
Michael handed me another file.
“There's one more thing.”
“What?”
“The shell company has another shareholder.”
I looked at the document.
There were two names.
Andrew Falk.
And...
Elena Carter.
I nearly dropped the paper.
“Elena?”
Michael nodded.
“Same name as your father's former secretary.”
“That can't be her.”
“We checked.”
My blood ran cold.
“Then why would she own shares?”
“That is what we're trying to determine.”
I immediately called her.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
Then a message arrived.
Don't trust Michael.
I stared at it.
Another message followed.
He works for them.
My hands went cold.
I looked across the room at Michael.
He was reading another document.
He looked up.
“What happened?”
I locked my phone.
“Nothing.”
He smiled.
But for the first time, I noticed something.
His briefcase.
The initials engraved on it.
T.F.
Theresa Falk.
I stood slowly.
“Michael.”
“Yes?”
“Where did you get that briefcase?”
He looked down.
“This?”
“Yes.”
“A gift.”
“From whom?”
He didn't answer.
I stepped back.
Michael sighed.
“Carla, you don't understand.”
“Then explain.”
He stood.
“I was working for Theresa long before I represented you.”
My heart dropped.
“You've been working for her?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because she paid me to monitor your finances.”
I felt dizzy.
“How long?”
“Eight years.”
I stared at him.
Eight years.
My attorney.
The man I'd trusted.
The man who had supposedly been protecting me.
He had been reporting to Theresa.
“So the audit…”
“Was real.”
“But you showed me only part of it.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I needed you to become suspicious enough to act.”
“Act against whom?”
He smiled.
“Against everyone.”
I couldn't understand.
Then the door opened.
Andrew walked in.
I stepped backward.
“You knew?”
He looked at Michael.
Then at me.
“Yes.”
My heart shattered.
“You knew Michael worked for your mother?”
Andrew nodded.
“And you still let him investigate me?”
“I was trying to protect you.”
I laughed bitterly.
“From what?”
“From my mother.”
Silence.
Andrew reached into his pocket.
He pulled out a small envelope.
“Your father gave this to me the week before he died.”
I stared at it.
“Why would he give you anything?”
“Because he knew what was coming.”
Andrew handed it to me.
I opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
My father.
Andrew.
And a third man.
I recognized him instantly.
He was the current chairman of my company.
The man I had promoted myself.
The man who had been advising me for ten years.
Andrew whispered:
“He is the person behind everything.”
I looked at the photograph.
The chairman was shaking hands with my father.
On the back, my father's handwriting said:
“If Carla ever discovers the truth, she must know that this man has been controlling the family business from the beginning.”
I looked at Andrew.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
He lowered his head.
“Because I was afraid.”
“Of him?”
“Yes.”
“Then why marry me?”
He looked into my eyes.
“For the same reason you married me.”
My throat tightened.
“What reason?”
“I loved you.”
I almost laughed.
“Love doesn't steal four million dollars.”
“I know.”
“Love doesn't lie for twelve years.”
“I know.”
“Then what do you want?”
Andrew's eyes filled with tears.
“Your forgiveness.”
I stared at him.
Then my phone rang.
It was Elena.
I answered.
Her voice was barely a whisper.
“Carla, leave the building immediately.”
“Why?”
“I found the final document.”
“What document?”
“The one that proves who ordered your father's murder.”
I froze.
“Who?”
Elena breathed shakily.
“Your father didn't name Theresa.”
“Then who?”
She paused.
Then whispered:
“It was your own husband.”
I looked at Andrew.
He was standing directly in front of me.
And before I could say another word, Elena screamed through the phone:
“RUN, CARLA! HE KNOWS I'M TALKING TO YOU!”
The line went dead.
Andrew stared at me.
His face was completely expressionless.
Then he slowly locked the office door.
