Chapter 73: Following Samuel Reed

Samuel's meeting was scheduled at a private restaurant downtown. Louis refused to follow him personally; being recognized would destroy any chance of learning something useful. Derek arranged discreet observation through a licensed investigator instead.

The report arrived that afternoon.

Samuel met Daniel Mercer, Greyline's current managing director.

The two spoke for nearly an hour. No audio was obtained, but photographs confirmed the meeting.

More importantly, Daniel left carrying an envelope Samuel had brought with him.

"Could be anything," Derek said.

"But now we know they're still connected," Louis replied.

Noah checked Hale Corporation's records and found Daniel Mercer had indirectly approved two research reports used against Stone Holdings.

Ethan wanted to confront Samuel immediately. Louis disagreed.

"If we approach him now, Daniel knows we're investigating."

"And if we wait, Samuel might disappear again," Ethan argued.

The discussion nearly became their old rivalry until Noah interrupted. "There is a third option. Give Samuel a reason to approach us."

They constructed a controlled leak.

Through an old industry contact, Derek allowed a false rumor to circulate that Louis had located archived procurement records from his grandfather's era. The rumor didn't mention Victor, Greyline, or Freya's family.

If Samuel or Daniel reacted, they would reveal what they feared.

Freya disliked the plan when Louis explained it.

"You're baiting people with fake information."

"Yes."

"Which is exactly what someone did to you and Ethan."

Louis paused.

"The difference," he said, "is that we're not using it to destroy anyone. We're watching who asks questions."

Freya considered that. "Fine. But don't become too impressed with your own cleverness."

"I'll try."

The rumor spread slowly.

For almost two days, nothing happened.

Then Samuel Reed contacted Derek.

Not Louis. Derek.

The message was short: "I heard Mr. Stone recovered old procurement records. If that's true, I have information he needs to see."

Derek showed Louis immediately.

"He took the bait," Ethan said during the secure call.

Louis wasn't convinced. "Or he knows it's bait."

Either possibility made the meeting dangerous.

Samuel requested a public location and insisted on speaking only with Derek first.

Freya listened as Louis discussed security arrangements. She wanted to ask whether he was worried, but the answer was obvious.

Before Derek left the next morning, Freya handed him a container of breakfast.

He blinked. "What's this?"

"Food. Investigators apparently forget meals when conspiracies happen."

Derek looked at Louis. "Your wife likes me more than you do."

"Go to the meeting."

Freya laughed.

At eleven fifteen, Derek entered the café Samuel had chosen.

Samuel was already waiting.

The first thing he said was not about money, Greyline, or Victor.

He said, "Tell Louis Stone his company didn't collapse because Ethan Hale beat him."

Derek sat down.

"Then tell me why it collapsed."

Samuel looked toward the window before answering.

"Because someone inside Stone Holdings had been preparing it to fail for years."

Derek didn't react visibly to Samuel's dramatic statement. He had worked with Louis too long to accept conclusions without evidence. Still, he understood the importance immediately. If Samuel could prove deliberate sabotage from inside Stone Holdings, Louis's public defeat would need to be reinterpreted completely. More importantly, whoever had engineered it might still believe the plan had succeeded.

For now, they chose patience over confrontation. Every new clue was documented, copied, and checked against the growing timeline. The network had survived for years because its connections were difficult to see. Louis and Freya had no intention of warning anyone that those connections were finally becoming visible.