CHAPTER 7: THE MAN WHO STOLE THE GREEN LEGACY
CHAPTER 7: THE MAN WHO STOLE THE GREEN LEGACY
Marcus did not answer another phone call.
Instead, he handed the flash drive to Rachel.
"If anything happens to me, this goes directly to the FBI."
Rachel's expression hardened.
"I'm not letting you walk into this alone."
"You won't."
Marcus reached into his desk drawer and removed a small leather notebook that had belonged to his mother, Evelyn Green.
"I spent years believing my mother died because she worked too hard."
He looked at the worn cover.
"But now I think she may have known something."
Inside the notebook were old names, dates, and addresses from the years Evelyn had worked as a night custodian in the original Green Enterprises headquarters.
One name had been circled repeatedly.
Victor Green.
Marcus's uncle.
The current Chairman of Green Enterprises.
The same man who had called him.
Everything suddenly fit together.
Evelyn had been a cleaner.
Ethan Parker had been a maintenance supervisor.
Lily had reported payroll fraud.
Anyone who came too close to Victor's operation either disappeared... or was quietly destroyed.
That evening, Marcus agreed to the meeting.
Location:
An abandoned Green Enterprises warehouse scheduled for demolition.
Rachel objected immediately.
"It's a trap."
Marcus nodded.
"I know."
"So why go?"
"Because Victor believes I'm bringing the original flash drive."
He smiled slightly.
"He isn't."
The real drive had already been copied multiple times and sent to federal investigators under attorney-client privilege.
Marcus carried only an empty duplicate.
The warehouse was silent.
Broken windows allowed moonlight to spill across the dusty concrete floor.
Victor Green stepped out of the shadows.
He looked distinguished.
Gray-haired.
Perfectly tailored suit.
The image of a respected business leader.
"You've grown into your father," he said calmly.
Marcus stared at him.
"My father would be ashamed of you."
Victor laughed softly.
"Your father lacked ambition."
"He had integrity."
"And look where integrity got him."
Marcus's jaw tightened.
"My mother died because of people like you."
Victor shrugged.
"Your mother asked too many questions."
Marcus froze.
"You knew."
"I approved the decision."
For the first time in years, Marcus felt grief become something sharper than pain.
It became resolve.
"You murdered her."
Victor's face remained emotionless.
"I removed a problem."
Suddenly, armed men emerged from the darkness.
Marcus raised both hands.
"You'll never get the evidence."
Victor smiled.
"I don't need the evidence anymore."
He nodded toward Marcus.
"I only need your silence."
The gunmen aimed.
Then—
Red and blue lights exploded through the broken windows.
"Federal agents! Nobody move!"
The warehouse erupted into chaos.
Victor's men fired first.
Agents returned fire.
Marcus dove behind a steel column as bullets shattered concrete around him.
Victor tried to escape through a rear loading dock.
But Lily appeared.
She had insisted on coming despite Marcus's objections.
She stood directly in Victor's path.
"You took my husband."
Victor sneered.
"Move."
"No."
He reached for a concealed pistol.
Before he could fire—
Marcus tackled him.
Both men crashed onto the warehouse floor.
The pistol slid across the concrete.
Victor grabbed Marcus by the throat.
"You could have ruled this company beside me!"
Marcus forced Victor's hand away.
"I'd rather lose everything..."
"...than become you."
Agents surrounded them seconds later.
Victor Green was arrested in handcuffs.
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For the first time in decades...
No amount of money could buy his freedom.
