Simon refused to allow anything else to leave the Arranguare company building. He faced Marcus while his cuffed hands remained before him. “Lock every elevator and seal the underground exits. Freeze every staff access card except those carried by your investigators. Preserve every camera recording.”Marcus raised his radio immediately. “All units, begin a complete lockdown. Nobody leaves the headquarters without Chairman Gallagher’s personal approval.”Rusk stepped forward, attempting to recover his authority. “You cannot imprison police officers and company employees because one vehicle disappeared. This lockdown is unlawful.”Simon looked at the phone inside Rusk’s pocket. “You recognised me, lied about it and contacted someone outside this building. You will remain here until Commissioner Pierce decides whether that message was lawful police business.”Simon called Pierce and explained what had happened. The commissioner answered quickly. “Rusk was never assigned to Arranguare cons

Romeo Benjamin stood before a mirror inside his private penthouse, practising the smile he intended to show the cameras. Television crews were waiting downstairs, but the broadcast would not begin for another forty minutes.The crisis at Arranguare had happened the previous day, but Romeo’s penthouse showed no sign of trouble. Television crews were preparing downstairs for his announcement of a new programme that would provide food and medical care to poor families across Betford. Printed banners carried his face beside the words, THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE.The programme had never been designed to rescue anyone from poverty. Romeo intended to donate a small amount before using the broadcast to attract sponsors, strengthen his political influence and bury the growing questions surrounding his companies. The money collected from wealthy partners would pass through his charitable foundation, allowing his accountants to hide several questionable payments among legitimate donations.Even

The unlocked door offered Isabella a truth she was not certain she wanted to see. She entered Romeo’s private office, closed the door gently and stood still, listening for movement beyond the walls.Nothing followed her. The quiet room smelled of polished leather and Romeo’s expensive cologne. Before touching anything, Isabella photographed the desk, chairs and shelves so she could return every object to its proper position.She was not searching because she wanted justice. She wanted protection. Romeo’s warning and his sudden interest in her medical records had shown her that becoming his wife might not provide the security she expected.“If you are hiding something that can destroy me, I deserve to know,” she whispered. Her hand trembled as she approached his desk, but she refused to turn back.The first drawer contained charity contracts and prepared speeches. Another held photographs of Romeo standing beside politicians, actors and struggling families. Everything looked harmless,

Isabella moved towards the office door. “Touch me after pointing that weapon at me, and everyone downstairs will know what kind of man hides behind your charity banners.”Romeo blocked her path. “You are learning to threaten the wrong people.”“I learned that from the man I am supposed to marry,” Isabella replied. “The television crews are waiting, the families are prepared and your charity performance begins soon. How will you explain why your pregnant fiancée ran downstairs screaming?”Romeo studied her for several tense seconds. His reputation, political plans and charitable announcement depended on the cameras finding the generous man he had promised the public. A frightened Isabella would destroy that image before the broadcast began.He stepped away from the door. “Your refusal confirms that you found something.”“It confirms that my phone belongs to me,” Isabella answered. “The same way my medical records and Robertson Oil belong to me.”“The wedding will still take place in tw

The search for Julian Crest had continued while Romeo prepared his charity broadcast and Isabella discovered the price of becoming his wife. By the second morning after Julian’s abduction, Simon travelled to the unfinished industrial estate with Pierce, Marcus and the handcuffed Edgar. Two trusted officers guarded the Edgar who was the prisoner.Edgar stopped fighting the handcuffs when he saw the blood inside his car. The black sedan stood between two unfinished buildings, surrounded by police tape. Its number plates had been replaced, and pale marks showed where someone had wiped the doors.“That is my car, but I did not bring it here,” Edgar said as the officers led him closer. “Someone took it while I was being held inside Arranguare.”Simon looked through the open rear door. Dark stains covered part of the seat and reached the handle beside it. “Your car disappeared with the evidence and was later found stained with blood. Saying it was stolen does not explain who used it.”Pierc