Chapter 4 - THE BAG
When they returned to Bellmont & Rowe, the leather handbag was gone.
Emily knew because she had memorized the position.
Daniel stared at the empty glass case.
"Who removed it?"
The store's new acting manager approached nervously.
"Mr. Kang, we don't know."
"Who has access to this case?"
"I'll have to check."
"Check now."
The manager hurried away.
Park spoke quietly into his earpiece.
Within seconds, two security personnel began reviewing footage.
Emily watched the screens.
"Stop."
The footage froze.
A man entered the handbag section at 7:42 that morning.
He wore a delivery uniform.
He approached the case.
Used a key.
Removed the bag.
Then walked out.
Daniel leaned forward.
"Zoom in."
The image sharpened.
The man's face was partly hidden.
But Emily recognized the watch.
"I saw him yesterday."
Daniel turned.
"Where?"
"In the crowd."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
Daniel stared at the screen.
"Park."
"Already checking."
The manager returned.
"The key was assigned to the assistant manager."
"Where is he?"
"He didn't come in today."
Daniel's expression hardened.
"Find him."
They searched the store.
Nothing.
Then Park received a message.
He looked at Daniel.
"Sir."
"What?"
"The assistant manager's apartment is empty."
Daniel nodded.
"Police?"
"Not yet."
Emily looked at him.
"Why not?"
Daniel met her eyes.
"Because I don't know who I can trust."
The words frightened her more than anything else.
They left the store.
Inside the SUV, Daniel explained what he knew.
His father had built Kang Capital decades earlier.
After his death, Daniel inherited control.
His mother had stayed away from the business.
But six months earlier, she discovered irregular transfers from a charitable foundation bearing her name.
Millions of dollars.
Money that had disappeared through shell companies.
"She found out who was responsible?"
"She found part of it."
"Who?"
Daniel looked at her.
"My chief financial officer."
Emily's stomach dropped.
"Richard Bell?"
Daniel nodded.
Emily stared.
"That's my supervisor."
"Then you're in more danger than I thought."
Emily immediately called Richard.
No answer.
She called again.
Still nothing.
Then a message appeared.
Don't come back to the office.
Emily showed Daniel.
His expression changed.
"Did he send that?"
"I don't know."
The SUV suddenly slowed.
A vehicle had pulled into the lane ahead.
Black sedan.
Daniel's security team immediately reacted.
Park said something into his earpiece.
The driver accelerated.
The sedan followed.
Emily's heart hammered.
"Are they following us?"
"Yes."
Daniel's voice remained calm.
"How do you know?"
"Because they've been following my mother for three weeks."
The black sedan moved closer.
Daniel's security vehicle came alongside it.
The sedan suddenly turned away.
Emily exhaled.
Then her phone rang.
Richard.
She answered.
"Richard?"
His breathing was heavy.
"Emily, listen carefully."
"Where are you?"
"Don't worry about me."
"What happened?"
"I made a mistake."
"What mistake?"
"I trusted the wrong person."
Daniel leaned closer.
"Put him on speaker."
Emily did.
Richard continued.
"The transactions weren't being hidden from the company."
"What?"
"They were being hidden from Daniel."
Emily frowned.
"Who was moving the money?"
Silence.
Then Richard whispered,
"His mother."
Emily's blood ran cold.
Daniel's face became completely still.
"That's impossible," he said.
Richard heard him.
"No, Daniel. It isn't."
"Richard, where are you?"
"I can't tell you."
"Why?"
"Because they know I'm talking."
A noise sounded in the background.
Richard gasped.
Then the call ended.
Emily looked at Daniel.
"What did he mean?"
Daniel didn't answer.
Instead, he said,
"We're going to my mother's house."
When they arrived, the front gate was open.
Security guards were gone.
The house stood silent.
Daniel stepped out.
"Stay inside."
Emily ignored him.
"I'm coming."
"Emily—"
"I'm not sitting in the car."
Daniel looked at her.
Then nodded.
They entered.
The foyer was empty.
A vase had been knocked over.
A chair was overturned.
Daniel's voice sharpened.
"Mom?"
No answer.
They searched the living room.
Kitchen.
Study.
Nothing.
Then Emily saw something on the floor.
A small beige button.
From Mrs. Kang's coat.
She picked it up.
Daniel stared.
"Mom."
They ran upstairs.
The bedroom door was open.
The bed was untouched.
But on the mirror, written in lipstick, were four words.
YOU SHOULD HAVE LISTENED.
Daniel stepped closer.
Emily noticed something beneath the message.
A second line.
Smaller.
Almost hidden.
Ask Emily about the bag.
Daniel slowly turned toward her.
"What did you see?"
Emily's mouth went dry.
"I don't know."
"Emily."
"I swear."
May you like
He stared at her.
Then the lights went out.
