Chapter 5: The Truth Hidden In The Numbers
The stranger stepped into the light.
For a moment, I thought I was going to scream.
Then I recognized him.
“Ethan?””
Ethan Cole looked almost exactly the same as he had three years ago.
Same tired eyes.
Same serious expression.
Same habit of rubbing the back of his neck when he was nervous.
He had been one of Marcus’s closest employees.
And the last person to speak with Marcus before he disappeared.
“What are you doing here?”” I asked.
He looked at the photograph in my hand.
Then at the note.
“You found it.””
My heart sank.
“You knew about this?””
Ethan didn’t answer.
That was becoming a pattern in my life.
Everyone knew something.
Everyone except me.
“I asked you a question.””
He sighed.
“I was hoping you never saw this room.””
“Why?””
“Because once you know the truth, you can’t pretend anymore.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Funny. Everyone keeps saying truth like it’s some dangerous thing.””
“It is.””
I stared at him.
“Where is Marcus?””
Ethan looked away.
“I don’t know.””
That answer hurt.
Because it sounded honest.
Not like Daniel.
Not like someone protecting a secret.
Like someone carrying one.
“Then tell me what happened.””
He hesitated.
Then walked toward the conference table.
“There was money missing.””
My stomach tightened.
“Daniel said Marcus was investigating that.””
“He was.””
“And?””
Ethan looked at me.
“And Marcus found it.””
“Found what?””
“The person who was stealing from the company.””
The room became silent.
“Who?””
Ethan didn’t say the name.
He didn’t need to.
I already knew.
“Daniel.””
Ethan looked down.
“He thought it was Daniel at first.””
The words hit me.
“At first?””
“That’s why Marcus disappeared.””
I stared.
“What are you saying?””
Ethan opened an old drawer hidden beneath the table.
Inside was a small black box.
He placed it in front of me.
“Marcus left this.””
My hands shook as I opened it.
Inside were documents.
Bank records.
Emails.
Photographs.
Evidence.
I scanned the pages.
The numbers.
The dates.
The transactions.
Then I saw something that made my heart stop.
My name.
“What is this?””
Ethan looked miserable.
“Marcus discovered money was being moved through accounts connected to you.””
I looked up.
“What?””
“He thought someone was using your identity.””
“No.””
I shook my head.
“No, that’s impossible.””
“I know.””
“Then why is my name there?””
Ethan didn’t answer.
I flipped through the papers faster.
There were transfers.
Fake signatures.
Documents I had never seen.
Someone had built an entire financial trail around me.
Someone wanted it to look like I was involved.
“Who did this?””
Ethan whispered:
“That’s the part Marcus never figured out.””
My phone vibrated.
A message.
From Marcus.
*DON’T TRUST ETHAN.*
My heart dropped.
I quickly showed him.
Ethan’s face changed.
“What?””
“He says not to trust you.””
For the first time, Ethan looked genuinely afraid.
“He’s still contacting you?””
“Yes.””
“Then he knows.””
“Knows what?””
Ethan grabbed the documents.
“We need to leave.””
I stepped back.
“No.””
“Nia—”
“No more secrets.””
My voice echoed through the empty room.
“I am done being the person everyone protects by lying to.””
Ethan stared at me.
Then slowly nodded.
“You’re right.””
He sat down.
“Three years ago, Marcus discovered the missing money.””
I listened.
“Daniel wasn’t the only person involved.””
My breath stopped.
“What?””
“There were three people.””
“Who?””
Ethan looked at the papers.
“Daniel. Someone inside the company. And someone Marcus trusted more than anyone.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
“Who?””
Ethan looked directly at me.
“You.””
I felt like the room tilted.
“What?””
“He thought someone was using your accounts. But then the evidence started pointing toward you.””
“That’s impossible.””
“I know.””
“Then why say it?””
“Because Marcus disappeared after confronting that person.””
“Who?””
Ethan whispered:
“The person who had access to everything.””
My phone rang.
Marcus.
I answered immediately.
“Where are you?””
His voice sounded desperate.
“Nia, get away from Ethan.””
I looked at Ethan.
“He’s telling me to stay away from you.””
A long pause.
Then Marcus said:
“He’s lying.””
Ethan shook his head.
“He’s manipulating you.””
“Both of you stop!””
My voice cracked.
I couldn’t take it anymore.
Three years of grief.
Three years of questions.
Three years of people deciding what I deserved to know.
“I want the truth.””
Neither man spoke.
Then Marcus said:
“The truth is Daniel didn’t kill me.””
My heart stopped.
“Then who did?””
Marcus was silent.
Too long.
“Marcus.””
Finally, he answered.
“The person standing closest to you.””
The call ended.
I looked around the room.
At Ethan.
At the door.
At the shadows.
And suddenly, I understood something terrifying.
May you like
I wasn’t searching for the truth anymore.
The truth was searching for me.
