Chapter 8: The Recording Nobody Was Supposed to Hear
I looked at my father.
He immediately noticed the change in my expression.
“What happened?””
I covered the phone.
“Olivia says Ryan has a recording involving you.””
My father went still.
I returned to the call.
“Olivia, where are you?””
“I'm at my apartment.””
“Don't leave.””
“He told me to meet him tonight.””
“Don't go anywhere near him.””
“Maya, you don't understand. He has something that could destroy both of us.””
“What recording?””
She hesitated.
Then she said, “A recording of your father meeting Daniel Cross.””
My stomach tightened.
“When?””
“About eight months ago.””
“Why would my father meet Daniel?””
“Because Daniel told him he had discovered financial irregularities. But Ryan edited the recording to make it sound like your father was approving the transfers.””
I looked at my father.
He shook his head immediately.
“That meeting happened,” he said.
“But I never approved anything.””
I returned to the phone.
“Olivia, preserve every message Ryan sent you. Marcus will contact you.””
“Please, Maya. I need protection.””
“You'll have it.””
I ended the call.
My father looked furious.
“Ryan is trying to manufacture evidence.””
“Then we need the original recording.””
Marcus joined us shortly afterward.
He listened to everything and immediately contacted the forensic team.
“Do we know where the recording is stored?”” he asked.
I shook my head.
“Olivia didn't say.””
Marcus considered it.
“If Ryan has a copy, there may be another version in the original files recovered from the storage unit.””
He opened his laptop.
After twenty minutes, he found a reference to an audio file.
The filename was:
*AB_DANIEL_PRIVATE_MEETING_FINAL.wav*
My father stared at it.
“Play it.””
Marcus hesitated.
“We should verify that it's an original copy first.””
He examined the file metadata.
Then he played the audio through the conference-room speakers.
My father's voice filled the room.
“Daniel, these transfers need to stop.””
A second voice responded.
“I understand.””
“I'm serious. Every payment must have a legitimate contract and proper approval.””
Daniel replied.
“Of course. We have everything documented.””
My father's voice became sharper.
“I don't want another conversation about this. If I find money moving without authorization, I'll bring in the authorities.””
The recording ended.
Marcus looked at us.
“That is the complete file.””
My father exhaled.
“Ryan must have edited the other version.””
“Possibly,” Marcus replied.
“We can compare the file signatures and timestamps once we obtain his copy.””
At 4:30 p.m., Detective Miller confirmed that Olivia had agreed to meet investigators.
She arrived at Bennett Holdings under police protection.
This time, she looked frightened.
She placed her phone on the table.
“Ryan has been sending me messages all day.””
Marcus examined them.
One read:
You have until nine tonight. Bring the original documents and meet me at the old Lakeshore warehouse.
Another said:
If you betray me, I'll make sure Alexander Bennett goes down with us.
Olivia looked at me.
“He knows where I live. He knows my family.””
My father leaned forward.
“Why did you agree to help Ryan originally?””
She lowered her eyes.
“Because I thought we were building a legitimate investment partnership.””
“Did you know about the eighteen million dollars?””
“Not at first. I discovered the unauthorized transfers when our accounting department noticed money moving through a company using our name.””
Marcus asked, “And when did you discover Ryan's involvement?””
“About four months ago.””
“Why didn't you report it then?””
Olivia's expression hardened.
“Because Ryan showed me documents suggesting I had already signed the authorization forms.””
“Had you?””
“No. They were forged.””
She looked at me.
“I was terrified. I thought I could quietly get out without involving the police.””
I folded my arms.
“And what about your relationship with him?””
She looked away.
“Ryan told me he was going to marry you. He said your father would eventually give you control of the company, and he wanted to be in a position to influence you.””
I remained silent.
Olivia continued.
“I believed him. I even helped him arrange some meetings. But when I discovered he planned to blame me for the entire operation, I decided to cooperate.””
Marcus collected her phone.
“We'll preserve these messages.””
My father looked at Detective Miller.
“We need to recover the original agreement and the edited recording.””
Detective Miller nodded.
“We have a warrant application underway for Ryan's office.””
But at 6:12 p.m., the police received an unexpected call.
A security guard at Ryan's building had reported a break-in.
Someone had entered the office after hours.
When investigators arrived, they found the family portrait lying on the floor.
The safe behind it was open.
Empty.
The original agreement was gone.
So was the office computer.
But Ryan had left something behind.
A small recording device hidden beneath the desk.
The forensic team recovered it.
At first, the device contained nothing but ordinary office conversations.
Then they found a deleted audio file.
Marcus called us at 8:05 p.m.
“We have something.””
He played the recording.
Ryan's voice came first.
“Once the vote happens, we move the funds. Daniel takes the blame for the authorization, and Olivia handles the acquisition.””
Another voice responded.
Diane.
“What about Maya?””
Ryan laughed.
“Maya won't matter. By then, she'll be married to me.””
Diane sounded uncomfortable.
“And if her father refuses?””
Ryan replied calmly.
“Then we make him look like the man who stole his own money.””
The recording continued.
Diane asked, “What happens if the police find out?””
Ryan answered:
“They won't. And if they do, I'll make sure someone else is holding the bag.””
Then came a voice I hadn't expected.
Vanessa.
“Ryan, you promised nobody would get hurt.””
He laughed.
“Grow up, Vanessa.””
The recording ended.
I sat completely still.
My father looked at me.
“Are you okay?””
I nodded, though my hands were trembling.
There was no longer any question about Ryan's intentions.
He had planned to use me.
He had planned to frame my father.
And he had been willing to sacrifice his own family.
At 9:17 p.m., Detective Miller called again.
“Ms. Bennett, we've located Ryan's vehicle.””
“Where?””
“An underground parking garage near the old Lakeshore warehouse.””
“Is he there?””
“No. But we found a second phone inside the vehicle.””
“What was on it?””
“A message.””
The detective paused.
“It appears Ryan sent it to someone named Daniel Cross.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“What did it say?””
Detective Miller read it aloud.
The meeting is canceled. We're moving to the backup location. Bring the documents and the girl.
I looked at my father.
“The girl?””
Neither of us spoke.
Then my phone vibrated.
A new message appeared.
This time, there was a photograph.
It showed Vanessa sitting in the passenger seat of a black SUV.
Her hands were tied.
May you like
Beneath the photograph was a message from Ryan.
*You wanted the truth, Maya. Come alone if you want your future sister-in-law back.*
