CHAPTER 7: THE WOMAN WHO DISAPPEARED
Marcus found Elaine Porter in Zurich.
Alexander’s former assistant had spent three years working under a different name for a private investment firm.
When Marcus contacted her, she immediately tried to leave Switzerland.
She was detained at the airport after American investigators issued a provisional request connected to financial fraud.
Two days later, Elaine agreed to speak through a secure video call.
Her face appeared on the screen in Alexander’s private office.
She looked older than he remembered.
More frightened too.
“I didn’t know Sophia was suffering,” Elaine said.
Alexander sat motionless.
“You forged my authorization codes.”
“I was ordered to.”
“By whom?”
Elaine looked toward her attorney.
“Victoria Sterling and Nathan Cole.”
“Why?”
“They told me the payments were part of a confidential custody arrangement. Nathan said Lauren was receiving the money through protected accounts.”
“But the money went to Sable Ridge.”
“Yes.”
“What happened after that?”
Elaine swallowed.
“It was divided.”
She described payments to private investigators, security consultants, court employees, and a small group of Sterling executives.
Some were paid to block Lauren’s communications.
Others monitored her location.
One maintained false documents in Alexander’s legal files.
“And the remaining money?” Alexander asked.
Elaine hesitated.
“It went into an account controlled by your mother.”
“How much?”
“Approximately sixty percent.”
Alexander’s anger sharpened.
Victoria had not merely used his money to fund the conspiracy.
She had profited from it.
Elaine began crying.
“I wanted to tell you. After Lauren disappeared, I realized what they had done. Nathan threatened my family. Victoria arranged a job for me overseas and told me never to return.”
“Do you have evidence?”
Elaine looked directly into the camera.
“I kept copies of everything.”
Her attorney placed a hard drive on the table.
“Transfer records. Emails. Audio messages. Copies of the forged court orders.”
Alexander leaned forward.
“Why keep them?”
“Insurance.”
“Against whom?”
“Your mother.”
Before Elaine could say more, the video feed went black.
Marcus immediately called the technical team.
“What happened?”
The screen flickered back to life.
Elaine’s chair was empty.
Voices shouted in the background.
Then her attorney appeared.
“Someone triggered the building’s fire alarm. Security removed her from the room.”
“Where is she now?”
“We don’t know.”
Alexander stood.
“Find her.”
The attorney looked toward the door.
“There are men in the hallway.”
The connection dropped again.
Marcus reached for his phone, but Alexander stopped him.
“Victoria couldn’t organize this so quickly.”
“Nathan?”
“Or someone protecting both of them.”
Alexander walked to the window.
Across the street, a dark SUV was parked beneath a construction awning.
It had been there for nearly an hour.
The moment Alexander noticed it, the vehicle pulled into traffic.
He turned to Marcus.
“Lock down the hospital. No one gets near Lauren or Sophia.”
“You think they’re in danger?”
“They have always been in danger.”
Alexander picked up the necklace containing Lauren’s recording.
“Until now, my mother believed she was protecting an empire.”
May you like
His voice became cold.
“Now she knows she’s fighting for her freedom.”
