Chapter 3 - The Ghost of the North Ridge
Within fifteen minutes, the quiet alley outside the tenement building was sealed off by two sleek black SUVs.
Nico Reyes, a broad-shouldered man with sharp features and a quiet, lethal presence, walked into apartment 3B alongside Dr. Evelyn Vance, a trusted private physician on Whitlock Global’s executive payroll.
While Dr. Vance gently examined Miles and Juny—checking them for malnutrition and exposure—Nico pulled Cade into the hallway.
"We ran Sarah Cross through the state databases, boss," Nico said, leaning against the peeling wall, his tablet glowing softly in the dim light. "Her record is clean as a whistle. Single mother, two jobs, no debt, no criminal history. But her cell phone pings tell a dark story."
Cade leaned closer. "Where did her phone go?"
"Her phone went dark at 11:42 PM last Thursday night," Nico said, tapping the glass screen. "The last tower that registered her signal wasn't near the docks. It was right at the main gate of the Sterling Estate on North Ridge."
Cade felt his breath catch in his throat. The Sterling Estate.
Arthur Sterling was not just a billionaire; he was Cade’s primary business rival and the man responsible for driving Cade’s father into bankruptcy twenty years ago. Sterling was an untouchable titan of old-money corruption, deeply embedded in state politics, private security networks, and dark harbor shipping routes.
"What was Sarah Cross doing at Sterling's estate?" Cade demanded, his eyes narrowing into slits of pure steel.
"We dug deeper into her employment history," Nico revealed softly. "Three years ago, before she worked at the fish plant, Sarah worked as an assistant accountant for Sterling Enterprises. She resigned suddenly without taking severance."
"She didn't resign," Cade realized instantly, his jaw clenching. "She found something. She uncovered something in Sterling's books."
"And if Sterling found out she kept copies of those records," Nico added darkly, "luring her to his estate under the pretense of a job offer was child's play."
Cade turned his head toward the door of apartment 3B. Through the crack, he could see Juny sitting on the edge of the sofa, watching Dr. Vance bandage a tiny scrape on Miles’ knee. Juny was holding her brother's hand, whispering comforting words into his ear, completely unaware that her mother had walked into the lair of the most dangerous man in the city.
Cade turned back to Nico. "Where are the children staying tonight?"
"I booked the private suite at the Harbor Grand Hotel under an alias," Nico said. "Fully guarded, twenty-four-hour room service, private medical staff."
"Good," Cade said. "Move them and Ms. Darlene there immediately. Make sure they have clothes, warm food, and anything else they need. Do not let anyone know where they are."
"And what are you going to do, boss?" Nico asked, watching Cade adjust his cuffs.
May you like
Cade looked out the hallway window toward the distant, snow-covered hills of the North Ridge, where the lights of the wealthy glittered like cold stars.
"I'm going to pay Arthur Sterling a visit," Cade said coldly. "It's time we caught up on old times."
