Chapter 124: The Slip

Adrian's statement did not prove he ordered anything against Freya's parents, but investigators immediately wanted to know how he knew Voss had demanded David's ledger. That information existed only in sealed evidence, witness interviews, and documents not yet made public.

Adrian's attorneys claimed he had learned it years ago through family discussions. That explanation created new problems because Adrian had previously denied knowing the details of David's investigation.

Louis's legal team did nothing publicly except preserve the contradiction.

Freya found the restraint satisfying. Adrian had spent years manipulating people into overreacting. Now his own need to control the story was producing mistakes.

The truck driver was shown Adrian's press conference and repeated that Marcus Vale had referred to an old man wanting the ledger. Elaine Porter independently identified Voss as the person who used that phrase around employees.

The emerging theory was increasingly specific: Voss ordered intimidation to recover David's evidence; Marcus arranged the driver; Adrian enabled or protected Voss because David's audit threatened the network Adrian was using against Charles.

Whether anyone intended the fatal collision remained unresolved.

Freya accepted that the legal truth might never become as clean as a novel ending. Murder required proof of intent, not merely moral responsibility.

Then forensic accountants found a transfer made two days after the accident. Adrian-controlled funds moved to Voss through an intermediary account. The memo referenced "containment completion."

Adrian's attorneys would have explanations. Consulting fees. Settlement obligations. Unrelated transactions. But the timing mattered.

Derek also received results from the old cassette tape. Experts authenticated the physical tape and found no sign the recording of Freya's parents discussing the following truck had been fabricated later.

For Freya, that mattered beyond court. Her parents had known they were in danger and had tried to protect evidence.

That evening she placed her mother's certified letter beside her laptop before writing. Louis asked whether having it there made work harder.

"No. It reminds me what she said. Find the truth, then live."

Louis sat across from her with his own work. Their apartment returned to its familiar quiet rhythm.

An hour later Freya's author inbox received another message from the suspected Mercer account.

This time it said: YOU WERE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE IN THE MODEL.

Freya showed Louis without replying.

Derek preserved it.

Louis frowned. "That's different from asking what you changed."

Freya agreed. The previous messages sounded curious. This one sounded almost like confirmation.

If Mercer was the sender, he had apparently concluded that Freya's behavior could not be explained as the original woman's sudden transformation.

But how could he possibly know that?

Freya shut the laptop.

She would not chase him.

If Richard Mercer wanted answers badly enough, he could come out of hiding and ask her face-to-face.

Louis reminded Freya that Mercer's messages could still be manipulation. The sender wanted attention and was choosing language designed to make himself seem uniquely knowledgeable. Freya agreed. Curiosity would not earn him control over their schedule. They continued with the legal investigation first.

Louis reminded Freya that Mercer's messages could still be manipulation. The sender wanted attention and was choosing language designed to make himself seem uniquely knowledgeable. Freya agreed. Curiosity would not earn him control over their schedule. They continued with the legal investigation first.

Louis reminded Freya that Mercer's messages could still be manipulation. The sender wanted attention and was choosing language designed to make himself seem uniquely knowledgeable. Freya agreed. Curiosity would not earn him control over their schedule. They continued with the legal investigation first.

Louis reminded Freya that Mercer's messages could still be manipulation. The sender wanted attention and was choosing language designed to make himself seem uniquely knowledgeable. Freya agreed. Curiosity would not earn him control over their schedule. They continued with the legal investigation first.