Small Hands Novel Chapter 08

Small Hands Novel Chapter 08

By morning, my team had traced the breach to Special Agent Thomas Crane-Jax’s lead interrogator.

“Clean record,” Frank reported. Twelve years with the Bureau.

Then why is he in Vesper’s servers?”

“We pulled his financials.” Frank slid a folder across the table. “Four months ago-a wire transfer. Two hundred fifty thousand dollars. Shell

company in the Channel Islands. Traces back to a subsidiary of Calder Media Group.”

The world tilted.

“No.”

“The paper trail is solid, Wren. A quarter million, through Calder’s corporate structure, into Crane’s personal account.”

“It’s a frame. Someone’s making it look like Rhys-*

“Or someone is playing you.” Frank’s voice was gentle but immovable. “Calder knew about Sienna’s files before you did. He has the resources, the reach. If Vesper’s clearances are compromised, our contracts default to the next qualified bidder-Calder Media’s entertainment division.”

Not again. I could not be wrong about someone again.

There’s another explanation,” I said, forcing my mind past the panic. “Jax knows about Rhys. If Jax is cooperating with someone inside the FBI,

he could’ve planted this trail to isolate me.”

“Possible. But equally possible Calder saw an opportunity-a vulnerable, powerful woman, an opening to absorb her empire.”

“He funded Unbroken-

“No. You made Unbroken. He benefited.”

I stared at the documents. The dates. The amounts.

Four months ago, Rhys hadn’t known V’s identity.

But he’d been searching. Four years searching.

What if that search wasn’t devotion? What if it was acquisition?

“Surveillance on Crane,” I ordered. “Full spectrum.” I swallowed. “And monitor Rhys’s communications. Discreetly.”

“And if we find something?”

I fell for you four years ago.

“Then I handle it myself.”

The next thirty-six hours were the longest of my life. I didn’t call Rhys. Couldn’t. If he was innocent, I was betraying his trust. If he wasn’t, every

word between us was a weapon.

Then the surveillance team flagged a meeting.

Agent Crane met someone in a Beverly Hills parking structure. Not Rhys-a woman. Tall, auburn-haired, dressed like she owned the city

I didn’t recognize her.

Frank did.

“Vivienne Marchand. Rhys Calder’s ex-wife.”

Surveillance photos: Vivienne handing Crane a flash drive. Crane handing her a sealed folder.

“She’s not working with Rhys,” I said slowly. “She’s working against him.”

“How do you know?”

“Because Rhys told me his ex took everything-his daughter, his shares, half his fortune. She wants Calder Media. And the fastest way to get it is

to destroy his strongest alliance.”

“You.”

“Me.” I grabbed my phone. “Get me Rhys.”

He answered on the first ring. “Missing me already?”

“Your ex-wife is trying to destroy us both.”

Silence.

Then, very quietly: “Tell me everything.”