The Blackwood headquarters was almost empty when we arrived.
Ethan met us in the lobby.
“How much?”
“Twenty-three million.”
My heart stopped.
“Twenty-three million dollars?”
Ethan nodded.
“Transferred from the Carter Trust.”
“Who authorized it?”
“We don’t know.”
Adrian took the tablet.
“Show me.”
We followed him upstairs.
The records showed the transfer.
The authorization appeared legitimate.
I looked at Adrian.
“Could someone have forged it?”
“Yes.”
Ethan shook his head.
“Not easily.”
“Why?”
“Because the authorization used an old Carter security key.”
I felt cold.
“What does that mean?”
Ethan looked at me.
My bracelet suddenly felt heavy.
I touched it.
Adrian noticed.
“Don’t.”
“Don’t what?”
“Assume it’s connected.”
“You just told me everything is connected.”
He looked at Ethan.
“Find out who accessed the old system.”
Ethan nodded.
Then stopped.
“There’s something else.”
“What?”
“The transfer wasn’t the goal.”
Adrian’s expression hardened.
“Then what was?”
Ethan turned the tablet around.
The money had been transferred— then immediately used to purchase shares in a company.
A company owned by Hayes Corporation.
Daniel’s company.
I stared at the screen.
“No.”
Adrian looked at me.
“This could make it look like your family is secretly funding Hayes.”
“Daniel didn’t do this.”
“You’re defending him?”
“No.”
I shook my head.
“I know Daniel.”
“You thought you knew him before.”
The words hurt.
I looked away.
He immediately softened.
“That wasn’t fair.”
“No.”
He stepped closer.
“I’m sorry.”
I looked at him.
“You’re apologizing?”
“Apparently I do it now.”
I almost smiled.
Then Ethan spoke.
“We need to consider another possibility.”
“What?”
“Someone wants the Carter family and Hayes Corporation connected.”
Adrian’s expression changed.
“Why?”
“To start a war.”
I looked between them.
“Between who?”
Ethan answered quietly.
“Everyone.”