Chapter 5 - THE PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR
I didn't have my mother's millions, but I had something she didn't: friends who worked in the shadows.
I called my old EMT partner, Tommy, who had retired from the force and now ran a private security and investigation firm. We met in the hospital cafeteria while a trusted nurse watched over Mia and Sarah.
"Tommy, I need everything you have on Eleanor Thorne," I said, sliding him a photograph of my mother. "Six years ago, she blackmailed Sarah. Last week, she tried to illegally evict her. I need a paper trail, and I need it yesterday."
Tommy leaned back, sipping his black coffee. "Your mom is a ghost, Marcus. She pays in cash and uses shell companies. But... everyone leaves a footprint."
"Where do we start?"
"The eviction," Tommy said, tapping his tablet. "If she tried to force Sarah out of her apartment, she had to use a proxy. Sarah's landlord is a shell corporation called Apex Holdings. I ran the LLC. The registered agent is a guy named Victor Kael. He’s a notorious fixer for the wealthy."
"Find him."
It took Tommy less than six hours. Victor Kael wasn't a criminal mastermind; he was a cowardly, overpaid thug who liked expensive whiskey. Tommy and I cornered him in the parking garage of his luxury condo at midnight.
I pinned Victor against the hood of his Mercedes, my forearm pressed against his throat.
"Apex Holdings," I growled. "You tried to evict a single mother named Sarah Jenkins last week. Who gave the order?"
"I don't know what you're talking about!" Victor choked out.
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Tommy pulled out a heavy steel flashlight and smashed the headlight of the Mercedes. "My friend is out of patience, Victor. Give us the proof, or I call the DA and hand over the file I have on your illegal offshore gambling ring."
Victor went pale. "Okay! Okay! It was Eleanor Thorne! She paid me fifty grand to forge eviction notices and harass the girl until she left the state. I have the wire transfers! I have the audio recordings of Eleanor giving the orders! Just let me go!"
