Chapter 8 - Broken Armor

Maria was just in her car outside the lawyer’s office, but in pain, staring at her mirror

All the documents piled up on thpassenger'srs seat looked like a burden to .her.

Inside the documents was everything the lawyer had sent her. Emails. Transaction records. Names.

And one name kept appearing over and over again.

Marcus Chen.

Daniel's former legal advisor.

She just had noo choice but to pick up the documents, and she was so weak she had not slept well or eaten well for some days.

But her mind was sharper than it had ever been.

The receptionist elcomed r with a smile when she came in. " Mrs. James, good morning. Mr. Thompson is expecting you."

Maria shook her head in response and walked straight inintoe office without saying a word.

Mr. Thompson has been working tirelessly on the Walton case,and it was showing on his face when she entered. He lifted his face to see and welcome her.

"Maria," he said, already on his feet. "Please sit."

She sat down and put the document on his desk. "I have gone through everything you sent."

"And?"

" This Marcus Chen," she said. "I want to know everything about this case."

Mr. Thompson heaved a sigh and rested back in his chair. "Marcus Chen was your husband's legal advisor for seven years. He handled most of Daniel's personal legal matters. Property acquisitions. Contract negotiations. Estate planning."

"So, he had access to everything," Maria said.

"Yes. Complete access."

Maria opened the document and brought out a printed email. "This email here. It was sent by my husband three days before he died. But look at the timestamp."

He picked up his reading glass and looked at the document, said. 2 amm."

"Daniel never worked that late," Maria said. "I asked Elena”. She told me he was always home by nine every day. Always."

The lawyer’s face was full of surprise. "You spoke to Elena?"

"Not yet. But I will."

Mr. Thompson stood up and went to the window. "Maria, if this is true... if Marcus Chen had access to your husband's accounts and used them to form fake evidence..."

"Then he was told to do it," Maria finished. "Someone wanted Walton to go down for this murder."

The room was silent.

Maria pulled out another document. This one was a financial transaction record. "Look at this. Two days after Daniel died, someone accessed one of his offshore accounts. The transaction was traced back to Walton's IP address."

"Exactly what I’m saying," Mr. Thompson said. "This is what the outside has against him that can help them win over us."

"But he was not in the country that day," Maria said. "He was outside the country for a business meeting. I checked his travel records myself."

The lawyer looked at her. "You have been doing your part pretty well."

"I don’t have a choice," Maria said. "They want to destroy him. And that will not happen when I’m here."

Mr. Thompson went back to his table and sat down. He looked at Maria with respect. "What should I do?.

"Do everything in your power to win this," Maria said. "Every document Marcus Chen ever signed. Every email he ever sent. Every person he ever worked with. I want to know him and who is behind him."

The lawyer shookhis head slowly. "That will take time."

"Then we start now," Maria said.

She was about to leave when she remembered something. It was from her wedding pictures. The emotionless wedding

"I observed something last night," she said. "Look at the background."

Mr. Thompson picked up the picture and looked at it. The picture. The Mariaand Walton, a man weari,, ng black suitHe was at the entrance, looking at them.

"That's him," Maria said quietly.

The lawyer was shocked. "He came to your wedding?"

"Yes. And he was not invited. So why was he there?"

Mr. Thompson set the photo down slowly. "He was watching. Making sure the marriage happened."

"But why would he care?" Maria asked.

The lawyer went silent for a long moment. Then he said, "Because the person behind this needed proof that the marriage was true. Someone who was planning all of this from the start."

Maria felt nervous.

"Who is that?" she whispered.

"I don’t think of anybody now," Mr. Thompson said. "But we will soon know the person."

At the isolation center, Walton was sleeping on the cold floor

It was looking smaller this time. No windows. No natural light. Just four walls and a single bulb that makes noise constantly overhead.

He has now used three days there.

Three days felt like three years for him.

He was not able to sleep. Every time he shut his eyes,s; he saw Daniel's face. He remembered the fight they had that night. He saw how Daniel was angry.

And then he saw Maria.

The way she looked when they took him away from the house. Her arms were around him in the hallway. Her voice said, I chose this.

He touched himself after she hugged him, ;is body was cold

"I'm very sorry," he said. "how did I get into this?"

The door opened so fast and sharply that he was not expecting it

A guard was there with food. He did not say anything

He was looking at the food. Bread that was as hard as stone. The souplooked like dirty water. He pushed it away.

He does not have an appetite.

He was so weak.

Tired of fighting. Tired of being strong. Tired of faking that he was not afraid deep down.

But for real, he was scared.

Not in prison. Not of losing his wealth or his reputation.

He was scared of losing Maria.

The only person who had stayed when everyone else had run away.

He bends his head, and for the first time in many years, Walton Jameiss is crying.

Maria went from the lawyer's office to the city archives building downtown.

If she wants to know who Marcus Chen really is, she needs to know more. Much deeper.

The building was looking so old, and the receptionist was looking so tired.

"I need business registration records," Maria said. "For the past ten years."

The woman sighed. "Name?"

"Marcus Chen."

The woman was typing slowly into her computer. After some minutes, she looked up. "We have twelve Marcus Chens registered in the city."

"I need the one who worked as a legal advisor," Maria said.

More typing. More waiting.

Finally, the woman gave her a piece of paper with writing. "Third floor. Section C. Ask for file number 4782."

Maria collected the paper and went upstairs.

The third floor was even dustier than the first. Lines of file cabinets stretched out in every direction. A young man with glasses was searching through papers.

"File 4782," Maria said, giving him the paper.

He collected it and walked to one of the cabinets. After searching for a while, he brought out a folder.

“Go and stand there and read it carefully, ly” He said

Maria started looking through the documents.

Inside were business registration documents. Partnership agreements. Tax records.

And then she saw it.

A partnership agreement that happened, Marcus Chen and a company called West Bridge Holdings was now getting nervous.

She opened to the next page and saw the name of the owner of  West Bridge Holdings.

Robert Kane.

Her hands started shaking.

Robert Kane was the name Walton had mentioned once. His father's old business rival. The man was Walton's father's sworn enemy many years ago.

She brought out her phone and snapped every page in the documents. Then she returned it to the young man.

"Thanks," she said and quickly went out of the building.

Inside the car, she called Mr. Thompson's number.

He picked the second ring. "Maria?"

"There is a lead," she said, her voice trembling with excitement. "Marcus Chen knows Robert Kane."

The other end was quiet for some time.

"Mr. Thompson?"

How sure are you?" he asked.

"Yes. I’m with the document. There were business partners."

"My God," the lawyer whispered. "Robert Kane. So he is the one doing all this."

"May I know him?" Maria asked.

"He was your husband's father's biggest rival in business. They fought for years. Robert lost everything when Walton's father won a major contract that Robert wanted. He did not have the money to keep his company running so he shut t ittown. He diit sappeared for almost twenty years."

"And now he is back," Maria said.

"and so he wants to take revenge now, and he is back," Mr. Thompson said.

Maria stomacMaria's'se. whWhoan we discuss our findings with? The police. The prosecutor."

"We need proof," Mr. Thompson said. "Real proof. Documents connecting Robert to Daniel's murder. Documents connecting him to the false evidence against Walton."

"We have no choice, we have to get it then," Maria said.

When she was done with the call, she just sat looking at her steering..thinking.

She said to herself “If Robert is behind this, then he has been planning this for a very long time”. He must have planned  Marcus Che for close to Daniel. He was just waiting for the right time to take advantage

And also fr ameframedn has a murderer.

But why?

I believeut   ouought to do more for this act?t

Maria drove off to her house after a while of thinking about where to go with the information she knew. Then she changed direction

She was going to see Elena. Daniel's widow.

She believed the closest to Daniel before his death would be herwouldce she was his wife.

Elena Kesser lived in a very beautiful house in the eastern part ofeasrneastern city surrounded by tall trees and a lot of security cameras.

Maria talked with the machine outside to alert that she was outside.

A woman spoke. "Yes?"

"My name is Maria James. I need to speak with Mrs. Kesser. I want to discuss a few things about your husband."

Silence for a while.

Then the gates opened.

Maria drove into the house its was a v.It. Itong driveway, she came on. She drove her car to meet Mrs. Kesser, who was looking sad with red eyes like sforif, as iffor a long time.

"Mrs. James," Elena said. What do you?"

I want to usetalk," Maria said. "I want to know what exactly happened."

Elena's countenance changed. "Your husband killed him."

"No," Maria said. "He cannot do such and I can pr,ove it but I need your help."

Elena looked at her for a while before she agreed. Then she stepped aside. "Come in."

The house was so beautiful, ul but felt very empty inside, as no one lived there anymore.

She did not give Marianything anhinganythingwent to living and had  their seat

"So what do.. You want to know?" Elena asked.

"Was he afraid of something? What was bothering him before he died?" Maria asked

Elena looked away. "Yes."

"And that was ?"

"he said that he was takrom company's revenue without permission, but who?" E,lena s?id. " he said he had evidence and was going to expose them."

Maria leaned forward. "Who? Who was stealing?"

"I have no idea," Elena said. "he said it was too  dangerous for me to be involved, or they will kill him."

Maria could imagine how cold she felt.

"And finally they did," Elthey said. She began to cry. "They killed the husbandd,d they killed the husban they killed the  husb,,and they killed thehusband,,d they killedTheTheyeloved husb, d  before he could speak."

"What of names, did he have any?" Maria asked. "Any files or records?"

Elena cleaned her tears. "he kept something in a USB drive in the office here at home. AAfterwardsI   looked for it but could not find .it”

"May I take a look?" Maria asked.

Elena looked at her. "And why do you think I should trust you?"

"Because we need the truth and the person who did this to pay dearly for it., Maria said

Elena was quiet for a long time.

Then she stood up. "Follow me."

They got up and headed to Daniel’s office upstairs. It was exactly how he had left it. Papers on the desk. Books on the shelves. A laptop that was turned off.

"I have not touched anything," Elena said. "I could not bear to."

Maria looked around the room carefully. If Daniel had hidden something, where would it be?

She checked the desk drawers. Nothing.

She checked behind the books. Nothing.

Then she saw it. A small photograph of her and her husband on their wedding day.

Maria picked the frame and looked at it and nonoticeddomething at the back.

There was a small cut in the backing paper.

She opened it carefully and noticed the USB drive .W at. Oh my God," Elena said.

Maria held the drive carefully. "This is it. This is what he was hiding."

"What do we do now?" Elena asked.

"We find out what's on it," Maria said. "And we use it to bring down the people who killed your husband."

Elena nodded, fresh tears in her eyes. "Please. Make them pay."

"I will," Maria promised.

That evening, Maria sat in her car outside the detention center.

She had tried to visit Walton, but they would not let her in. New restrictions, they said. No visitors allowed for prisoners in isolation.

She was very angry and wanted to break down the door and drag him out

But she could not.

She just went back to her car and stared at the building and pray he was prepared.

Her phone rang.

Unknown number.

She answered it carefully. "Hello?"

"Mrs. James." It sounds like a woman’s voice from before.

"May I know what you really want?" Maria asked.

“You are really crossing the line, you will be the next to die if you don’t stop what your doing now”

"May I ask... who the hell are you?" Maria demanded.

"Someone who knows what Robert Kane is capable of," the woman said. "He killed Daniel. He framed your husband. And  you can be the next if you keep going further."

"but I’m noButButaid of anyone," Maria said.

"then I know ThenThenstupid," the woman said. "he took everything from me, my husband, my peace so I will fight to take everything from him?"

Silence ….

Then the woman llaughed "You're so brave. Or maybe just more stupid."

"But I’m still asking,  who are you?" Maria asked again.

"A friend," the woman said. "Or maybe an enemy. You will soon find out."

The line went dead.

Maria was just looking at her phone.

Then she looked at the building

"Hold on tight, darling," she said. "I will come and get you out of there. I promise."

Inside the isolisolation centeralton was counting all the cracks he saw on the concrete wall that felt like it was getting smaller.

He closed his eyes to think of something. Something that did not hurt.

Maria came to his mind.

The way she looked at him with boldness and refused to back down.

He just smiled

“I will not lose you, ou my heart,” he said

When iwasas dark security guard just passed his cell, but he di,,d not move.

He just kept his eyes and held on to only one thing, which kept his hope alive.

Early morning, Maria was not  bed again, as he had gotten up

She wgottenbusy thinking about everything going on.

Robert Kane. Marcus Chen. The USB drive.

Itwas somehow connected, nd she had to figure it out

She dressed up immediately and picked the USB from her bag.

She needed someone trusted to open it.

She remembered Waltoch ttechthe guy, a very smart, humble man incharge of in chargeesecurity cameras around the mansion

She went to. Walton’s office and got his number

"Hello?" a sleepy voice answered.

"David, this is Maria James. Walton's wife. I need your help."

"Mrs. James?" He sounded more awake now. "Is everything okay?"

"No," she said. "It will be if you can help me open a USB file."

"When?"

"Now," she said.

Okay,  I will be there in thirty minutes

"Okay, thank you so much," Maria said.

Thirty minutes later, David, the tech guy, was here to help out

Maria let him in.

"May I see it, madam?" David asked.

Maria gave him the USB ddrdrivestarted working, typing so fast on his laplaptop s is a premium military encryption. Whoever did this did not want anyone to have access to this."

"But can you open it?" Maria asked.

"I should, but give some time."

"How many?"

David looked up at her. "Some hours oSmeSomere."

"okay get to work," Maria said. "I will wait until you are done."

She got herself a coffee and sat down

Three hours passed.

Then four.

He now smiled and said. "I'm in."

Mariawas happy. "So what do we have on the drive?"

David turned the laptop toward her.

The screen showed dozens of files. Emails. Documents. Audio recordings.

Maria clicked on one of the emails.

It was from Robert Kane to Marcus Chen.

We need to move faster. Daniel is getting suspicious. If this is leaked, we are all in troubl..e

Maria was shaking even her hands.

She clicked on another email.

The frame is set. Once Daniel is dead, all evidence will point to Walton James. Marcus, make sure the IP trace leads back to him. I want him destroyed.

"Wow," Maria said.

She played the audio recording file.

Robert Kane's voice was heard everywhere in the room.

"Twenty years to destroy this James family I starte,d w, i th his father now. I will destroy the son too; nothing will remain of them when I’m done.

Mariastartst.  ed crying with her faceinn her lap.

This was it.

She finally had the evidence they needed.

 She looked, "David, can you please make copies of this?"

"I have done that " said David, “One for you. One for the lawyer. One for backup."

"okay thank you."

She picked up her phone and called the lawyer

"We have it. We have the evidence ready."