Chapter 4 - Diane’s Finger
Diane refused.
“I’m not touching it.”
Elena watched from across Daniel’s conference room.
“You recognized it.”
“No.”
“You said Michael destroyed it.”
Diane's jaw tightened.
Daniel slid photograph across table.
“Then explain that sentence.”
Diane demanded attorney.
Fair.
Meeting ended.
Two days later, through counsel, Diane provided statement.
Michael showed her device three years earlier.
He called it “dead-man switch.”
He told Diane that if she interfered with Elena’s trust, evidence of her theft would be released.
Diane believed device contained proof.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because he threatened me!”
Elena almost laughed.
“He threatened to tell me what you did with my money?”
“I was twenty-nine!”
“You were thirty-eight.”
Diane looked away.
That tiny lie hurt more than expected.
Always adjusting history to become victim.
Then Daniel asked:
“Why biometric lock?”
Diane didn't know.
Michael required her fingerprint once during confrontation.
Maybe enrolled it.
Why?
Technician discovered device needed Diane's print to decrypt archive.
If she refused, timer expiration would automatically transmit archive to predetermined recipients.
Not explosion.
Data release.
A digital time bomb.
There was money detail.
Michael disguised it literally as bomb because he knew Diane would understand metaphor.
Timer had not started yet.
The note said start only if Diane tried taking house.
Elena had not pressed button.
Then Daniel discovered forged house letter had been emailed from an address associated with Diane’s pickleball club computer.
Diane denied.
Could someone else use it?
Yes.
Then club security footage.
A man.
Baseball cap.
Using lobby computer.
Elena recognized posture.
“Michael?”
Impossible.
Michael died two years ago.
Footage dated four months ago.
Daniel enlarged frame.
Not Michael.
His younger brother, Ryan.
Elena had not seen Ryan since funeral.
He and Michael had been estranged.
Why forge Elena’s letter to Diane?
Ryan contacted Daniel voluntarily after realizing investigation had found him.
“I wasn't helping Diane steal house.”
“Then what were you doing?”
“Testing her.”
Elena stared.
Ryan said Michael had created series of traps before death.
Not because he expected die.
Because someone was draining Elena’s trust.
Diane’s original $180,000 theft wasn't biggest problem.
Millions had disappeared later.
Michael suspected someone was using Diane’s old debt as cover.
Ryan forged letter to see whether Diane would try claim house.
“She did.”
“How?”
“She called me next day.”
“What did she say?”
May you like
Ryan looked at Elena.
“She said, ‘If Elena dies, everything finally comes back to me.’”
