Chapter 18
Ethan opened the folder, scrolling through line after line of classified military logistics records.
His father hadn't just been running an international real estate firm.
Richard Vance had been managing private logistics for a top-secret U.S. Department of Defense initiative in Eastern Europe.
“Look at these transfer amounts,” Ethan pointed to the screen.
Hundreds of millions of dollars had been routed through offshore accounts in Zurich and Liechtenstein.
“Thomas Montgomery didn't sabotage the plane just for insurance money,” Ethan realized, his eyes widening.
“He did it because my father discovered that Montgomery was stealing federal defense funds!”
Clara leaned closer to the screen, her sharp eye catching a secondary document attached to the bottom file.
“Ethan… look at the secondary signatory on the Zurich accounts,” Clara whispered.
Ethan zoomed in on the scanned signature at the bottom of the wire transfer authorization.
The signature was dated June 12, 1999—two days before his father’s death.
It didn't belong to Thomas Montgomery.
It didn't belong to Eleanor Vance.
The signature read: Arthur Moretti.
Ethan felt a cold shock travel down his spine.
Arthur Moretti was the late patriarch of Moretti Holdings—the legendary mob-connected conglomerate in New York City.
“The Montgomery family wasn't working alone,” Ethan said, his voice dropping into a tense whisper.
“They were partners with the Moretti syndicate.”
Downstairs, the front door of the cabin creaked open softly.
Ethan closed the laptop instantly, his hand reaching for the drawer where he kept his private revolver.
May you like
“Victoria?” Ethan called out toward the loft stairs. “Is that you?”
Silence answered him from the lower floor.
