Chapter 7 - The Syndicate's Shadow
I sat in my apartment, staring blankly at the wall as Sophie's words echoed in my mind.
Derek had brought the violent wrath of a Seattle crime syndicate directly to my parents' doorstep.
That explained the hidden gun, the frantic need for the house, and the suspicious life insurance policy taken out on me.
He was planning to use my death to pay off his massive debt and save his own pathetic life.
Sophie advised me to stay locked inside my apartment and not to speak to anyone who knocked on my door.
I agreed and spent the rest of the weekend organizing my new life, completely ignoring the chaotic barrage of texts from my mother.
By Monday morning, the reality of my actions had finally hit my family like a freight train.
The house was freezing cold, the property was legally locked under a massive lien, and their bank accounts were frozen due to the fraud investigation.
I drove to my corporate office, feeling a strange mix of anxiety and powerful confidence.
I walked into the lobby, swiped my security badge, and headed toward the main elevators.
Suddenly, the glass doors of the lobby violently burst open, and Derek stormed into the building.
He looked completely unhinged, his clothes wrinkled and his eyes bloodshot from a lack of sleep.
He marched directly toward me, screaming that I had ruined his life and destroyed our family.
Derek raised his fist, stepping aggressively into my personal space to intimidate me.
Before he could even swing, three massive corporate security guards tackled him hard to the polished marble floor.
I watched coldly as they pinned him down and quickly secured his wrists with heavy zip-ties.
My boss, Mr. Henderson, stepped out of the executive elevator and witnessed the entire chaotic scene.
Mr. Henderson calmly instructed the guards to hold Derek in the security office until the police arrived.
He then turned to me, handing me a thick, sealed corporate background check document.
He explained that Derek had secretly applied for a senior management position at our company last week.
Sarah had used her old connections to try and bypass the standard screening process for him.
Mr. Henderson smiled grimly and said the company's security team had flagged Derek immediately.
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The background check didn't just reveal the embezzlement charges waiting for him in Washington state.
It also revealed that Derek was currently listed as a primary suspect in a federal murder investigation.
