Chapter 3 - The Six-Digit Code
By morning, Vanessa Mercer had been formally arrested.
Her attorney arrived before sunrise.
By eight o’clock, he was already claiming that Vanessa had suffered a psychological crisis caused by financial pressure.
Daniel did not care.
He cared about Elena.
He cared about the twins.
And he cared about the strange note containing his name and $6.8 million.
The family attorney, Rachel Kim, arrived at the hospital shortly after nine.
She had helped Daniel establish the twins’ trust.
When he told her Vanessa knew about the authorization code, Rachel immediately became concerned.
“That code was generated yesterday morning.”
“I know.”
“It was sent to Elena’s authenticated number.”
“I know.”
“And the only notification on our side went to the bank portal.”
Daniel leaned forward.
“Could Vanessa have accessed your system?”
“Not legally.”
Rachel opened her laptop.
“I’m checking now.”
Elena watched from the hospital bed.
She looked exhausted.
But her voice was clear.
“Vanessa knew the exact amount too.”
Rachel stopped typing.
“The $150,000?”
“Yes.”
Rachel looked at Daniel.
“That amount was never publicly documented.”
Silence filled the room.
Rachel logged into the trust administration portal.
Her expression changed.
“What?”
Daniel moved closer.
“There was an access attempt yesterday morning.”
“From where?”
Rachel studied the log.
“Mercer Freight headquarters.”
Daniel’s pulse jumped.
“Which terminal?”
“I need the bank’s security team to identify it.”
Elena closed her eyes.
Vanessa had not simply learned about the trust.
Someone inside Daniel’s company had been monitoring their private financial information.
Rachel made three calls.
Then she contacted federal compliance counsel.
By noon, another person arrived.
Special Agent Marcus Hale from the Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General.
Daniel had expected an accountant.
Instead, Hale looked like a man who had already read fifty pages before entering the room.
He sat opposite Daniel.
“Mr. Mercer, your company’s audit has become part of a preliminary fraud investigation.”
Elena looked at Daniel.
Daniel remained still.
“How long?”
“Six weeks.”
Daniel felt the words land heavily.
“And nobody told me?”
“We weren’t investigating you directly.”
“Were?”
Hale did not react.
“Several payments were approved using executive credentials assigned to you.”
Daniel stared at him.
“What payments?”
“Vendor invoices.”
“How much?”
“Approximately $6.8 million.”
The same number from Vanessa’s note.
Daniel stood.
“That’s impossible.”
Hale opened a folder.
“Between January and July, Mercer Freight paid twenty-three invoices to three companies.”
“Which companies?”
“Northbridge Routing.”
“Never heard of it.”
“Halcyon Fleet Services.”
Daniel shook his head.
“And Silver Track Consulting.”
Daniel looked toward the window.
“I’ve never approved contracts with any of them.”
Hale waited.
“That may be true.”
“May be?”
“We need evidence.”
Daniel’s phone buzzed.
A company text.
BOARD EMERGENCY MEETING.
Another arrived.
ALAN PIERCE CANNOT BE REACHED.
Daniel showed Hale.
The agent’s expression barely shifted.
“When did you last speak to your CFO?”
“Four days ago.”
“Where was he?”
“At headquarters.”
“Do you know where he is now?”
“No.”
Hale closed his folder.
“We don’t either.”
Daniel looked at Elena.
Vanessa was locked in a county detention facility.
Alan had disappeared.
And someone had used Daniel’s credentials to move millions.
Then Rachel’s laptop chimed.
The bank security report had arrived.
She opened it.
The trust portal access had originated from a finance department terminal.
Terminal F-17.
Daniel knew exactly whose office contained F-17.
May you like
Alan Pierce.
*
