Now the reason became clear.
“He knew,” Marcus said.
“Yes.”
“About the Meridian agreement?”
“Possibly.”
“About the original funding?”
“Almost certainly.”
Marcus rubbed his forehead.
“Get him here.”
Sarah looked concerned.
“Are you sure?”
“No.”
She waited.
Marcus corrected himself.
“Do it anyway.”
Edward arrived two hours later.
He entered Marcus's office with an expression of irritation.
“You called?”
Marcus gestured toward the chair.
“Sit.”
Edward sat.
Marcus placed a document in front of him.
Edward looked down.
His face changed.
Marcus watched carefully.
“You recognize it.”
Edward didn't answer.
“Who paid you?”
Edward's eyes lifted.
“I don't know what you're talking about.”
Marcus smiled.
“That's unfortunate.”
He placed another document beside the first.
Edward's hands began to tremble.
“You've been investigating me.”
“Yes.”
“You have no right.”
“I do now.”
Edward stood.
“This is absurd.”
Marcus remained seated.
“Sit down.”
Edward hesitated.
Then slowly sat.
Marcus leaned forward.
“You have one opportunity.”
“For what?”
“To tell me the truth before someone else does.”
Edward looked at the floor.
Finally, he spoke.
“I wasn't supposed to be involved.”
Marcus waited.
“They approached me years ago.”
“Who?”
“Meridian.”
“What did they want?”
“Information.”
“About Reed Systems?”
“Yes.”
“How much did they pay?”
Edward closed his eyes.
“Enough.”
Marcus's voice became colder.
“You betrayed me.”
“I protected myself.”
“By helping them?”
“You don't understand what they could do.”
Marcus stood.
“No.”
He walked toward the window.
“I understand exactly what they could do.”
Edward looked at him.
“They destroyed people.”
Marcus turned.
“Who?”
“Executives who refused them.”
“Names.”
Edward shook his head.
“I can't.”
“Why?”
“Because some of them are dead.”
Marcus's expression hardened.
“Dead?”
Edward nodded.
“Accidents. Heart attacks. Car crashes.”
Marcus stared at him.
“You're telling me people were killed?”
Edward looked frightened.
“I'm telling you people disappeared.”
The room went silent.
Marcus returned to the desk.
“Who runs the network?”
Edward whispered a name.
Marcus had never heard it.
“Samuel Voss.”
“Who is he?”
“The man behind Meridian.”
Marcus frowned.
“Richard?”
“Richard works for him.”
That changed everything.
Marcus had been looking at the wrong man.
Richard wasn't the architect.
He was an employee.
A powerful one, but still an employee.
“Where is Voss?”
Edward shook his head.
“I don't know.”
“Then find out.”
Edward looked at him.
“You think I can just walk away?”
“No.”
Marcus picked up his phone.
“You're going to cooperate with the investigation.”
Edward's face fell.
“And if I refuse?”
“Then the evidence goes to the authorities.”
Edward nodded slowly.
“You've changed.”
Marcus looked at him.
“No.”
He paused.
“I've just stopped believing everyone deserves my trust.”
After Edward left, Sarah entered.
“We have another problem.”
Marcus sighed.
“What now?”
“The press has discovered the investigation.”
Marcus looked at her.
“How?”
“Someone leaked the existence of the contracts.”
“Who?”
“We don't know.”
Marcus stared at the city.
Within minutes, his phone began vibrating.
News alerts.
Financial headlines.
Social media posts.
REED SYSTEMS FACES INTERNAL CORRUPTION INVESTIGATION.
BOARD DIRECTOR LINKED TO SECRET PAYMENTS.
MERIDIAN CROWN UNDER SCRUTINY.
Marcus's company stock began falling.
Sarah watched him.
“Do we issue a statement?”
Marcus thought for a moment.
“Yes.”
“What do we say?”
“The truth.”
She looked surprised.
“All of it?”
“Everything we can verify.”
“Even the financial investigation?”
“Yes.”
“Won't that hurt the company?”
Marcus looked at her.
“Lying will hurt us more.”
The statement was released at 2:00 p.m.
It said only that Reed Systems had identified unauthorized agreements and financial irregularities and had initiated an independent investigation.
Marcus did not mention discrimination.
He did not mention the train.
He did not accuse Meridian of crimes.
He simply stated the facts.
The public response was immediate.
Some praised the transparency.
Others accused Marcus of creating a scandal.
Investors demanded answers.
Employees worried about their jobs.
But Marcus remained calm.
Then his phone rang.
It was Richard.
Marcus answered.
“What do you want?”
Richard's voice was quiet.
“You don't understand what you're doing.”
“Then explain it.”
“You're going after people you can't fight.”
Marcus smiled.
“Everyone can be fought.”
“Not these people.”
“Why?”
“Because they don't care about losing.”
Marcus's expression changed.
“What does that mean?”
Richard paused.
“They'll destroy everything.”
The call ended.
Marcus stared at the phone.
Then another message arrived.
Unknown number.
A photograph.
Marcus opened it.
It showed his house.
Taken that morning.
Underneath were four words:
WE KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE.
Chapter 9
Marcus did not go home that night.
He stayed at headquarters.
Security doubled around the building.
His family was moved to a private location.
He hated that decision.
For years, Marcus had kept his personal life separate from his company.
Now the two worlds had collided.
At 3:00 a.m., Sarah entered his office.
“We found Samuel Voss.”
Marcus looked up.
“Where?”
“Zurich.”
“Is he there now?”
“Yes.”