Chapter 10 - The Unfinished Business
The orchids were immediately seized by the federal agents, but the psychological damage was done. The Vanguard had bypassed federal security just to send a message: No one is untouchable.
Returning home with a newborn was supposed to be a joyous occasion, but for Sarah and Mark, it felt like retreating into a bunker. Every creak of the floorboards, every unexpected knock at the door, sent their heart rates skyrocketing. Mark took a leave of absence from his architectural firm, transforming their guest room into a makeshift command center. He spent his days pouring over the financial documents Sarah had originally leaked, searching for the hidden connections Reynolds had mentioned.
"Look at this," Mark said one evening, his eyes bloodshot from staring at the monitors. He pointed to a series of shell companies registered in the Cayman Islands. "Sterling’s firm was funneling millions into these accounts. But the holding company that owns them—Apex Solutions—was never investigated. It just dissolved the day after Sterling was arrested."
Sarah bounced a sleeping Lily against her shoulder, leaning over to look at the screen. "Dissolved, or rebranded?"
"Exactly," Mark typed rapidly, running the names of the Apex board members through a global database. "Three of the directors on the Apex board just resurfaced this week. They started a new venture capital firm in London. They’re moving the money."
Sarah felt the familiar spark of righteous anger ignite in her chest. She carefully placed Lily into her bassinet and pulled up a chair next to her husband.
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"They think because I have a baby, I’ll back down," Sarah said, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "They think I’ll trade my silence for safety. But they don't understand that Lily is the exact reason I can't stop. If they are moving the money, there’s a digital trail. And we are going to find it."
The whistle-blower was back to work.
