Chapter 3 - Sophia Had Been Keeping A File
Richard finally told Ethan part of the truth.
Sophia had been investigating financial records connected to a veterans’
housing nonprofit called Harbor Shield Foundation.
She worked there as a compliance analyst.
Three months earlier, she discovered payments to contractors that did
not match completed work.
At first, she believed it was sloppy bookkeeping.
Then she found duplicate invoices.
Millions of dollars had moved through companies with overlapping
addresses.
Sophia told Richard because he was an accountant.
She did not tell Ethan.
“She didn’t want to distract you during deployment,” Richard said.
Ethan hated that explanation.
Not because Sophia had done something wrong by protecting sensitive
work.
Because everyone had decided what he could handle without asking him.
“Who knew she was investigating?”
Richard named three people.
Harbor Shield’s executive director, Daniel Cross.
Chief financial officer Melissa Grant.
And a consultant named Victor Lane.
Ethan knew Victor.
Victor had attended their wedding.
He had once served with Sophia’s late brother, Noah.
Richard said Sophia believed someone had accessed her work computer.
Two weeks before the attack, she began keeping copies at home.
“Where?”
“I don’t know.”
Ethan stared.
“You were in my house that night.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Sophia called me.”
At 11:31 p.m., Richard received a call.
Sophia whispered:
“Dad, someone’s here.”
Then the line disconnected.
Richard drove to the house.
When he arrived, the back door was open.
Sophia was on the kitchen floor.
The hooded person was already there.
Ethan’s hands curled.
“You carried my wife out with the attacker?”
Richard shook his head.
“That person wasn’t the attacker.”
“Who was it?”
Richard looked at Samuel.
Then at Ethan.
“Your wife’s brother.”
Ethan froze.
“Noah is dead.”
May you like
Richard answered quietly.
“That’s what Sophia believed too.”
