CHAPTER 2 — THE BADGE
CHAPTER 2 — THE BADGE
The chapel fell silent.
No one moved.
No one breathed.
Daniel stared at the badge in my hand as if it were a loaded weapon.
Federal Investigator.
Financial Crimes Division.
For the first time since he walked into the funeral, confidence disappeared from his face.
"Lena..." he began carefully.
I cut him off.
"Don't."
The single word echoed through the chapel.
My mother looked up through tear-filled eyes.
Celeste released Daniel's arm.
Neither of them had expected this.
Daniel swallowed.
"What exactly are you accusing me of?"
I looked toward Maya's coffin.
Then toward the tiny white casket beside hers.
"I'm accusing you of destroying my sister."
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
Daniel shook his head.
"This is grief talking."
"No," I replied calmly.
"This is evidence talking."
I reached into my coat and removed a thick folder.
The same folder I had spent three weeks building.
Phone records.
Bank transfers.
Insurance documents.
Deleted messages.
Every lie carefully preserved.
Daniel's face turned pale.
"You searched my records?"
"I followed the money."
The room grew even quieter.
Because everyone knew what that meant.
Money leaves footprints.
And Daniel had left plenty.
Then I pulled out one final document.
A life insurance policy.
The beneficiary section faced the mourners.
Daniel Voss.
Amount payable upon Maya's death:
$2.5 million.
The chapel erupted.
May you like
And Daniel suddenly looked terrified.
TO BE CONTINUED...
