Chapter 9 - The Allied Witness
The video feed cut out abruptly, leaving Arthur staring at his own pale reflection in the darkened phone screen. The harsh reality of his situation settled over him like a physical weight. He couldn't go to the police—Victor clearly had local law enforcement compromised, judging by how easily the kidnappers had moved through the neighborhood without tripping an alarm. He needed an outside perspective, someone entirely untainted by the corporate rot that had poisoned his life. As he paced the empty living room, his eyes fell on a business card resting near the telephone: Sarah Chen, a senior investigative journalist specializing in corporate financial fraud who had tried to interview him six months ago about suspicious shell companies.
Arthur didn't hesitate. He dialed her number directly, praying she was still working late.
After three agonizing rings, a crisp, professional voice answered. "Chen here. Who is this?"
"Sarah, it's Arthur Sterling," he said rapidly, struggling to keep his voice steady. "I need your help. My wife has been taken, my company has been hijacked by my partner Victor Ross, and I have less than forty-eight hours to hand over everything I own to save her."
There was a brief pause on the other end of the line before Sarah replied, her tone instantly shifting from guarded to razor-sharp. "Mr. Sterling? You hung up on my producer six months ago when we asked about the offshore accounts in the Cayman Islands."
"I was blind, Sarah! I trusted the wrong man, and now my family is paying the price," Arthur pleaded, running a hand through his hair. "Victor has been using my signature to siphon millions, and he framed me for corporate embezzlement."
"Meet me at the 24-hour diner on 4th and Elm in twenty minutes," Sarah said firmly. "Bring whatever physical evidence you managed to salvage from your office and the basement. Do not call the police, and do not talk to anyone else on the way."
May you like
The line went dead before Arthur could confirm. He grabbed the manila folder from the basement, slipped Elena’s wedding ring into his pocket, and rushed out the front door toward his car.
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