Chapter 6 – The Woman in the White Coat
Detective Emily Carter couldn't stop thinking about the surveillance footage from the mall.
The woman in the white coat had stolen the bracelet with professional precision.
It hadn't looked random.
It looked rehearsed.
She requested footage from nearby traffic cameras.
Within hours, analysts tracked the woman to an underground parking garage less than two miles away.
Her face was finally clear.
Detective Carter froze.
"I know her."
The woman was Vanessa Cross—a former corporate investigator who had once worked for Holloway Financial before disappearing nearly six years earlier.
Meanwhile, Sarah received an unexpected visitor.
A woman in her late sixties knocked softly on her apartment door.
"My name is Eleanor Bennett."
Sarah immediately recognized the face.
Michael had shown her photographs years ago.
Eleanor had been the company's former Chief Compliance Officer.
"I've been hiding," Eleanor admitted after stepping inside.
"I was afraid."
Sarah remained cautious.
"Afraid of Richard?"
Eleanor slowly shook her head.
"No."
She looked directly into Sarah's eyes.
"I was afraid of the people Richard answered to."
Sarah's expression changed.
"What do you mean?"
Eleanor reached into her handbag and removed a worn leather notebook.
"There were never just a few corrupt executives."
She placed the notebook on the kitchen table.
"It was an entire network."
Judges.
Lobbyists.
Investment brokers.
Politicians.
International consultants.
Names filled every page.
Sarah's pulse quickened.
"This is bigger than Holloway Financial."
Eleanor nodded.
"Much bigger."
Just then, Sarah's phone rang.
Detective Carter's voice came through urgently.
"Sarah... don't leave your apartment."
"Why?"
"We found the woman who stole the bracelet."
Sarah frowned.
"Good."
"No," Carter replied.
"It's worse than that."
"The theft wasn't random."
"It was staged."
Sarah's blood ran cold.
"You mean..."
"Yes."
"The bracelet was planted to create a reason for someone to accuse your son."
Someone had planned the encounter before Sarah and Noah had ever walked into the mall.
And that meant one terrifying truth.
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Noah had never been the target.
Sarah had.
