Chapter 15: The Original Records

For several seconds, neither of us spoke.

If Nathan was really the person who had called, then everything had just become more dangerous.

I looked at Cole.

"Are we going to the station?"

"Yes."

"Then I'm coming with you."

He immediately shook his head.

"No. This has already put you in enough danger."

"You don't get to make that decision for me anymore."

Cole stared at me.

This time, he didn't argue.

We left the hotel shortly after eleven.

The old train station had been abandoned for years.

Most of the windows were broken, and weeds had grown through the cracks in the platform.

Cole parked several streets away.

We walked the rest of the distance in silence.

I carried the folder containing the old records.

The moment we entered the station, I heard a metallic sound from somewhere in the darkness.

Cole grabbed my arm.

"Stay behind me."

"I'm not helpless."

"I know."

We moved deeper inside.

A single light flickered above the old ticket counter.

Someone was sitting beneath it.

I stopped.

Nathan Reed slowly stood up.

He looked exhausted.

There was a bruise along his cheek and a cut above his eyebrow.

"You came," he said.

Cole stepped forward.

"Where is Elise?"

Nathan looked at me.

"She's alive."

I exhaled.

"Where is she?"

"Safe for now."

Cole's voice hardened.

"Who took her?"

Nathan glanced toward the dark platform.

"She wasn't taken."

I frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"Elise disappeared because she wanted to disappear."

My stomach tightened.

"Then why did everyone think she was kidnapped?"

Nathan gave a bitter smile.

"Because that's exactly what she wanted everyone to believe."

Cole looked stunned.

"Why would she do that?"

"Because Richard was getting close."

Nathan pulled a small flash drive from his pocket.

"Elise discovered that Richard had been manipulating financial records for years. But she also discovered something much worse."

He handed the drive to Cole.

"Richard didn't start with her father's company."

I stepped closer.

"Where did he start?"

Nathan looked directly at me.

"With your father."

The words made my chest tighten.

"What did he do?"

"He framed him."

I stared at Nathan.

"My father wasn't responsible for the missing money?"

"No."

Nathan shook his head.

"Richard created false transactions, altered account records, and used your father's signature to make him look guilty."

My eyes burned.

"Why?"

"Because your father discovered what Richard was doing."

Cole stepped closer.

"Then why didn't anyone expose him?"

"Because Richard had already controlled the people investigating him."

Nathan pointed at the folder in my hands.

"The original records are the only proof that can destroy him."

I opened the folder.

My father's signature was there.

But beside it was a second signature.

Richard's.

The dates showed that Richard had approved transactions before they were supposedly created.

For eight years, those records had been hidden.

My father's name had been ruined while the real culprit continued living comfortably.

I felt tears gather in my eyes.

"Why did Elise involve me?"

Nathan hesitated.

"Because you're the only person who can legally challenge the original records."

"Why?"

"Because your father left the controlling rights to his remaining estate to you."

I stared at him.

I had never known.

Before Nathan could say anything else, headlights appeared outside the station.

A car stopped near the entrance.

Nathan's expression changed.

"They're here."

Cole grabbed my hand.

"We need to go."

A shadow moved across the broken windows.

Then the station lights suddenly went out.

In the darkness, someone shouted from the entrance.

"Mara! Give us the records!"

I held the folder tightly against my chest.

This time, I knew exactly what they were willing to do to keep the truth buried.