Chapter 6 - Walter’s First Mistake
Adrian wanted Walter removed from every company system immediately.
Naomi refused to let anger replace procedure.
“We need to determine whether his account was compromised.”
“It wasn’t.”
“Prove it.”
“He ordered Monica to watch Helen.”
“Still not proof of credential creation.”
Adrian paced.
“What do you want me to do?”
“Build a case that survives someone other than your certainty.”
He stopped.
Naomi had been general counsel for eight years because she had never learned to be intimidated by him.
He hated her most when she was useful.
The company’s cybersecurity team examined the credential request.
It came from Walter’s authenticated home-office device.
Multi-factor confirmation had been completed using his registered hardware token.
Could someone still have used his system?
Yes.
Was it likely?
Less so.
Then they found an email to Walter’s executive assistant:
Create temporary housekeeping access for M.K. suite under H.C. backup profile. Monica has misplaced documents and wants discretion.
Signed electronically:
W. Sterling
Adrian read it twice.
“Send it to port investigators.”
Naomi nodded.
“And outside counsel.”
The theft allegation against Helen began collapsing.
Monica’s lawyer changed language within hours.
Now Monica claimed she had “no personal knowledge” of how the bracelet entered Helen’s locker.
Helen’s administrative leave remained, but the staffing contractor no longer threatened termination.
Power shifted.
Adrian expected Helen to be relieved.
Instead she looked more frightened.
“Walter doesn’t make mistakes like that.”
“Apparently he does.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“If he left his name on it, he wants you looking at the bracelet.”
Adrian stopped.
“A distraction?”
“Maybe.”
“From what?”
Helen’s phone rang.
No number.
She looked at Adrian.
He activated a recording device only after Naomi advised them not to secretly intercept without legal analysis.
Helen answered on speaker without recording.
“Hello?”
Silence.
Then a woman breathed.
Helen went white.
“Anna?”
Adrian’s heart stopped.
The voice was older.
Still unmistakable.
“Helen.”
Adrian gripped the table.
He had not heard that voice in twenty-eight years.
Helen began crying.
“They found you.”
“I know.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It wasn’t your fault.”
Adrian stepped closer.
Helen looked at him.
Anna heard the movement.
“Is he there?”
Adrian could barely speak.
“Yes.”
Silence.
Then:
“Hello, Adrian.”
His knees almost failed.
“Anna.”
One word.
Twenty-eight years.
He pressed his fist to his mouth.
“Where are you?”
“I can’t tell you.”
“You’re alive.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you come home?”
“You know some of it now.”
“I know Dad lied.”
Anna was silent.
“Did he know?”
“Yes.”
“All twenty-eight years?”
“Until he died.”
Adrian looked toward the wall.
He had held Charles’s hand during his final hours.
His father had whispered, “Take care of the family.”
Anna had been alive somewhere.
“Did Walter try to kill you?”
“Yes.”
No hesitation.
Adrian closed his eyes.
“Can you prove it?”
“I can prove enough to destroy what he built.”
“Then let me help.”
“I don’t know if I can trust you.”
The words hit harder than anything Walter could have said.
“Anna.”
“You signed Meridian documents.”
“I was nineteen.”
“I know.”
“Dad put papers in front of me.”
“I know that now.”
Adrian gripped the table.
“Then why don’t you trust me?”
“Because every time I tried to move toward Sterling Oceanic, somebody knew.”
Adrian froze.
“What are you saying?”
“Either Walter had extraordinary surveillance for twenty-eight years…”
She paused.
“…or someone near you was feeding him information.”
Naomi and Lucas exchanged looks.
Adrian said, “Not anymore.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Tell me what you need.”
“I need you to stop looking publicly.”
“No.”
“Adrian.”
“No. They already threatened you.”
“Helen is in more danger because you confronted Walter.”
He looked at Helen.
She did not disagree.
Adrian felt the weight of his mistake.
“What do you want?”
“Quiet.”
“For how long?”
“Three days.”
“Why?”
“I’m moving something.”
“What?”
“Evidence.”
“Where?”
“I’m not telling you.”
“Anna—”
“You were always terrible at following instructions.”
Despite everything, Adrian laughed.
A broken sound.
Anna laughed too.
For one second they were nineteen and twenty-four again.
Then her voice became serious.
“Adrian, listen carefully.”
“I am.”
“Do not let Walter sell the company.”
Adrian’s expression changed.
“What sale?”
Naomi looked up.
Anna continued.
“He has been negotiating with Blackwake Capital for six months.”
Adrian stared at Naomi.
She shook her head.
She knew nothing.
“What exactly is being sold?”
“Not Sterling Oceanic entirely. The fleet assets.”
“How do you know?”
“Because the same lawyer who built Meridian is drafting the structure.”
Adrian’s blood went cold.
“Evelyn Shaw?”
“Yes.”
Evelyn Shaw.
Seventy-three.
Charles Sterling’s former personal attorney.
Still counsel to Walter.
Anna continued.
“If the transaction closes, historical liabilities get pushed into an empty holding company while the ships move into new entities.”
Naomi swore.
A classic asset-isolation strategy could have legitimate purposes.
Here, with old fraud resurfacing, it could also make recovery much harder.
“When?”
Adrian asked.
“Board approval in twelve days.”
He stared.
The emergency pressure on him suddenly made sense.
Walter was not merely trying to silence history.
He was trying to move the future.
Anna said, “Three days. Don’t contact me.”
“Wait.”
“What?”
Adrian swallowed.
“Are you safe?”
Silence.
“No.”
The line disconnected.
Helen stared at the phone.
Adrian immediately ordered Lucas to trace the call.
Lucas refused.
“Without authorization, we risk exposing her location to whoever has access to our systems.”
Adrian looked at him.
Anna’s warning echoed.
Someone near him.
Someone feeding Walter.
Adrian slowly turned toward the security monitors.
“Who knew Helen was aboard before Monica searched her file?”
Lucas said, “Human resources. Contractor management. Executive security.”
Naomi added, “And the office that approved your private travel.”
Adrian’s eyes narrowed.
Only six people knew he would be aboard the Aurora Crown privately.
Walter had known.
That was not surprising.
But Anna’s existence had become known within minutes of Helen speaking.
The threatening photograph arrived almost instantly.
Someone had been ready.
Then Lucas’s phone buzzed.
He read the message.
“Sir.”
“What?”
“The ROV team found the chain.”
Helen stood so fast the chair fell.
“The locket?”
“Only part of the chain.”
Hope collapsed.
Lucas continued.
“But there’s something else.”
Attached to the broken chain was not the locket.
It was a tiny magnetic capsule Helen had never known existed.
And sealed inside was a folded strip of waterproof film bearing a number.
May you like
A safe-deposit-box number.
In Anna’s handwriting.
