Twenty placed his phone on the desk and looked at Victor.“Find out everything about that man.”Victor glanced at the photograph again.“His name is Samuel Darius. According to the records we have, he died three years ago in a private hospital after suffering a stroke.”“Who confirmed his death?”“His family, apparently. His company was transferred to a business associate shortly afterwards.”“Who?”“Marcus Hale.”Twenty leaned back.“So Marcus inherited the company?”“Not exactly. The company was already under his management before Samuel died. After the death was announced, Marcus became the principal shareholder.”Twenty considered the information.It was possible Marcus had simply taken over a legitimate business after his associate died. However, the document they had recovered suggested something different. If Samuel’s signature appeared on payments connected to the auction after his death, somebody had been using his identity.“Get me the original death records, company documen

Twenty remained silent for several seconds after Peter mentioned Marcus Hale’s father.He had spent the last few days following a trail that connected Richard, Kean, Adrian and Marcus. Each discovery had revealed another layer of the operation, but Peter’s revelation suggested that the organisation had existed long before the people Twenty had been investigating.“What’s his father’s name?” Twenty finally asked.Peter swallowed.“Edward Hale.”Victor immediately took out his phone and began searching through the information available to him.Twenty looked at Peter.“Tell me everything you know about him.”“I don’t know much. He was a businessman who had interests in transportation, property and private security. From what I heard, he established the company that later became Samuel Darius’ company.”“Then why was Samuel’s name used?”Peter shook his head.“That’s what I never understood. When I joined the company, everyone referred to Samuel as the owner. But I once overheard two seni

Twenty did not immediately speak.He kept his eyes on Victor, waiting for an explanation, but the man standing before him remained unusually still. Victor had faced threats, interrogations and dangerous situations without showing much emotion. This time, however, something in his expression had changed.“Do you know Evelyn Cross?” Twenty finally asked.Victor looked at the document on the table.“No, sir.”“Then why does someone believe you were ordered to protect a woman seven years ago?”Victor’s jaw tightened.“I don’t know what they’re talking about.”Twenty leaned back.“That’s an interesting answer. I didn’t ask whether you knew what they were talking about. I asked what happened seven years ago.”Victor remained silent.The silence was enough to make Twenty suspicious.“Have you been keeping something from me?”“There’s something I haven’t told you,” Victor admitted eventually. “But it has nothing to do with the trafficking operation.”“Then tell me what it has to do with.”Vic

Twenty placed his phone on the desk.The photograph of Edward Hale remained on the screen, but his attention was fixed on Victor.“Close the door.”Victor did so.For several seconds, neither man spoke. Twenty had trusted Victor with his security, his family and the investigation. He had allowed him to handle sensitive information because he believed there were no secrets between them that could put his family in danger.Now someone was suggesting otherwise.“Seven years ago,” Twenty began, “you were part of a security team responsible for moving Evelyn Cross. You told me you had no idea why she was being transferred, and that Daniel instructed you to forget about the assignment.”“That is correct.”“Yet someone has sent me a message claiming you made a promise to Daniel.”Victor lowered his eyes briefly.“I didn’t tell you everything.”“I noticed.”“After Evelyn disappeared, Daniel contacted me. He said the assignment had gone wrong and that the woman had escaped from the people who

Twenty arrived at the Hale estate shortly before ten in the morning.The property stood behind tall iron gates, surrounded by trees and a high concrete wall. From the outside, it looked like an ordinary residence belonging to an extremely wealthy family. However, the number of security cameras and guards positioned around the compound suggested that whoever lived there had reasons to be careful.Victor sat beside Twenty in the front passenger seat.“Two vehicles are following us,” he reported after checking his phone. “Our men are maintaining their distance.”“Good. Nobody enters the property without my instruction.”The gates opened before their vehicle reached them.A guard approached and checked their identification, then stepped aside. Twenty noticed that the security personnel seemed to know exactly who he was. There was no confusion, no unnecessary questioning and no attempt to delay them.Edward had clearly been expecting him.Their vehicle stopped in front of a large building.