Chapter 16
Elena plugged a vintage tape player into her desk outlet, inserting the black cassette with shaking fingers.
Chief Vance stood nearby, his hand resting on his belt as the mechanical reels began to spin slowly.
Static hissed through the small speakers before a deep, familiar voice filled the quiet study.
It was the voice of her late father, Richard Sterling, recorded twelve years ago in 2014.
"If you are listening to this tape, Richard is already dead," her father's recorded voice stated calmly.
"And Arthur Montgomery was not the man who ordered the strike on my private aircraft."
Elena froze, her eyes widening in absolute horror as the breath caught in her throat.
"Arthur was merely a greedy middleman who handled the wire transfers," Richard's voice continued.
"The man who authorized the sabotage of my plane... the man who wanted full control of Sterling Global..."
The recording paused for two agonizing seconds of heavy static before the final name was spoken.
"...was my elder brother, Edward Sterling."
A deafening silence descended upon the study as the tape ended with a sharp mechanical click.
Elena dropped the tape player onto the desk, her face draining of every single drop of color.
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"No... no, that's impossible..." Elena gasped, stumbling back against her leather chair.
"Edward saved me... Edward helped me destroy Montgomery!"
