My senior business partner told the board he was boarding an eleven-hour flight to Zurich for an emergency investment summit.
Detective Bennett’s visits became my lifeline, a steady stream of information and a renewed sense of purpose. He brought me updates, always careful to speak softly, his eyes scanning the room, perhaps wary of eavesdroppers. He confirmed the repair estimates for the compound were indeed exorbitant, perfectly aligned with Margaret’s threat.
“They’re moving fast,” he commented one afternoon, his brow furrowed. “Trying to solidify the ‘accident’ narrative before you can fully recover.”
“And the insurance payout?” I asked, my voice still weak but steady. “Has it gone through?”
Bennett nodded. “Apex Mutual wired the $5,000,000 to Brock Bio-Tech’s corporate account yesterday. Hallowell fast-tracked it, just like he said.”
The news was a fresh stab of betrayal. They were getting away with it.
“I decided to pull some local bank records,” Bennett said, changing the subject, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Specifically, transactions during the week of the blackout. Just a hunch.”
He pulled out a slim, laminated printout from his jacket pocket, placing it carefully on my bedside table. “This is interesting.”
The printout showed a series of banking transactions. My eyes went immediately to a large sum: $150,000. It was an international wire transfer, dated two days after I was rescued.
“Source?” I asked, pointing to the entry.
“A shell corporation in the Cayman Islands,” Bennett explained, his finger tracing the line. “Registered to an address that, after some digging, appears to be a front for Jason Brock.”
My gaze shot to the recipient. Sheriff Luke Callahan.
“Callahan’s private credit union account,” Bennett confirmed, watching my reaction. “The transfer was filed under ‘real-estate consulting fees’.”
A cold, hard anger settled in my chest. The deliberate delay in my rescue, the attempt to cover up the sabotage with a storm story—it all made sense now. Callahan wasn’t just incompetent or easily swayed. He was bought.
“Jason paid him to let me die,” I whispered, the words tasting like ash.
Bennett nodded slowly. “That’s what it looks like. One hundred and fifty thousand dollars for a ‘consulting fee’ that conveniently aligns with your ‘accident’ and the subsequent cover-up.”
“And the board,” I added, connecting the dots, “Margaret. They all knew.”
“The timing is too precise,” Bennett agreed. “This isn’t just a local sheriff making a mistake. This is a coordinated effort.”
He tapped the printout. “This changes everything, Emily. This isn’t just about a power outage anymore. This is bribery. This is attempted murder, plain and simple.”
The discovery of Callahan’s payoff hardened my resolve. I wouldn’t let them win. This wasn’t just about my life anymore; it was about exposing the rot at the core of their operation.
“What’s the next step?” I asked, my voice no longer weak, but imbued with a steely edge.
Bennett collected the printout, his expression grim. “The next step is to protect you, Emily. Because now, you’re not just a victim. You’re a witness to a much bigger crime.”
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