Chapter 5 - NICHOLAS'S SECRET
Nicholas told me the truth.
His family had taken control of the charity network years ago.
But Nicholas had never wanted involvement.
He married Abigail because he genuinely loved her.
Then he discovered what his family was doing.
He tried to leave.
They threatened him.
When Abigail found the locked room, Nicholas panicked.
Not because he wanted to silence her.
Because he knew what happened to people who knew too much.
“Why didn't you tell her?”
“I was trying to protect her.”
“You locked her in the guest house.”
His face collapsed.
“I made the worst decision of my life.”
He admitted taking her phone.
He admitted lying to his parents.
But he denied ordering the assault.
“Who did?”
“I don't know.”
“Gregory?”
Nicholas shook his head.
“Someone above him.”
Then he handed me a flash drive.
“Your mother left this.”
I stared at him.
“How did you get it?”
“Gregory gave it to me. He thought it was useless.”
I plugged it into an isolated computer.
One folder appeared.
PROJECT SENTINEL.
Inside were documents showing money diverted from military charities.
But there was something else.
A list of names.
Military officers.
Government contractors.
Judges.
Lawyers.
And one name at the top.
GENERAL THOMAS REED.
My commanding superior.
I sat back.
This was no longer a family dispute.
This was a national security matter.
I immediately contacted military investigators.
Before I could finish the call, my phone rang.
Unknown number.
A distorted voice spoke.
“You should have stayed out of this.”
I said nothing.
“You have forty-eight hours.”
“For what?”
“To leave the investigation.”
“And if I don't?”
A pause.
“Ask your daughter what happened to the last person who refused.”
The call ended.
Abigail looked at me.
“Mom?”
May you like
I put the phone down.
“We're going to keep going.”
