“We have found three more accounts in tax havens. The total sum of stolen money exceeds $45 million. Ethan prepared his escape thoroughly.”

“Can that money be recovered?”

“We are in contact with international agencies. The process is complex, but there is a chance.”

The next day, Emily received an unexpected call. It was Pamela Serrano from the detention center.

“Emily, it is Pamela. They gave me one call.”

“I am listening.”

“I want to tell everything. Testify against Ethan. But I have one condition.”

“What is it?”

“Meet with me. There are things you need to know.”

“About what?”

“About what Ethan planned to do to you and your son? It is much worse than you think.”

Emily agreed to meet. Curiosity overcame her aversion.

The detention center was a grim building in an industrial park. The visiting room: bare walls, a table, two chairs, bars on the window. Pamela looked terrible. Her hair was messy. Her clothes wrinkled. Her eyes red from crying. There was no trace of the self-assured young woman.

“Thank you for coming,” she said in a weak voice.

“I am listening, Pamela.”

“I want you to know I never wanted to hurt you. Ethan told me you had not loved each other for a long time and that the divorce was inevitable and you believed him. I was in love, blind and stupid.”

“He promised he would marry me, that we would buy a house in Italy. Children, children, I am pregnant, Emily, with Ethan’s child. I found out last week.”

Emily felt a pang in her heart. He was going to have a child with his mistress while her own baby had not survived.

“Why do you think it is Ethan’s?”

“My husband and I were careful because I was going to leave him for yours. And what else did you want to tell me about Ethan’s plans?”

“He did not just plan to divorce you. He planned…” Pamela hesitated. “What did he to kill you after you gave birth to make it look like an accident or a postpartum crisis?”

Emily felt her blood run cold.

“Are you kidding me?”

“No. He has contacts in the criminal world. People who know how to eliminate obstacles. Ethan said it was simpler. No need to divide assets in the divorce.”

“And you kept quiet.”

“I thought he was not serious, that they were just words.”

“And when did you realize he was serious?”

“When he showed me pictures of those people, he told me how they worked. Then I got scared, but it was too late. I was his accomplice.”

Emily was in shock. So, he not only planned to rob her, but to kill her, and she had been miraculously saved by discovering his plans at the airport.

“Pamela, do you have proof?”

“Text messages with those people. Ethan thought he had deleted them all, but I took screenshots. I saved them on a USB drive.”

“Where is the drive?”

“At my house. In a box on my dresser. A small pink one.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Because I realized that Ethan is a monster. He used me just like he used you and everyone else. And when he no longer needed me, he would have discarded me, too.”

“And your husband, Victor.”

“Victor is a good man. I was an idiot to betray him. Now I want to at least redeem part of my guilt.”

“What do you want in return?”

“Tell Victor I am sorry and let him know the truth about the child.”

After the meeting with Pamela, Emily went straight to see Detective Vargas. The new information radically changed the case.

“A contract killing?” Vargas asked. “Are you sure?”

“Pamela is willing to testify and has evidence.”

“Then this is not just fraud. It is an organized crime group. We need to conduct an additional operation.”

Vargas immediately organized a search of Pamela’s apartment. Victor let them in and showed them where the USB drive was. There indeed they found the text messages from Ethan with two individuals, Miguel Moreno and Dennis Castano, men with criminal records.

“We need to solve the problem with the wife radically,” Ethan wrote. “After she gives birth, she is depressed. A tragedy would not be surprising.”

“Understood. The payment? $200,000, half upfront, half after,” Moreno replied.

“Agreed.”

Emily read the messages feeling a chilling terror. They were not only cheating on her, but they plan to eliminate her from the world with the same coldness.

“A normal person plans a vacation. We need to arrest Moreno and Castano,” Vargas said. “Do you have any information on them?”

“No, but I can ask Detective Castle. He has contacts in the underworld.”

Castle responded quickly. In 2 hours, he sent a dossier on the two suspects. Miguel Moreno, a hitman with two murder convictions. Dennis Castano, his partner and expert in simulating accidents, professionals.

“If their plan had succeeded,” Vargas said, “you would not have suspected anything. And in a few months, you would have been the victim of an accident.”

In the evening, Emily met with Victor. He looked sad but firm.

“Did Pamela send you any message?” he asked.

“She asks for your forgiveness and she wants you to know she is pregnant.”

Victor turned pale. “With his child.”

“Yes, according to her, you two were careful. With him, she was not. And now Pamela realizes that Ethan just used her. She regrets it.”

“And what will happen to the child?”

“That is her decision. But if she has it, she will raise it alone. Ethan will be in prison for a long time.”

“And I I cannot forgive her after all this.”

“That is your right, Victor. No one will judge you.”

Victor also wanted to start a new life free of lies and betrayals. He had also filed for divorce.

The next day, Moreno and Castano were arrested. In the search, weapons, false documents, and messages from other clients were found. It turned out that Ethan was just one of the group’s many clients.

“This is turning into a federal case,” Vargas said. “They will probably transfer it to the main office.”

“And what will happen to Ethan?”

“Attempted murder will be added to the fraud charge. Now he is not facing 10 years but much more.”

Emily felt a strange satisfaction. Justice had completely triumphed. Ethan would get what he deserved for all his crimes.

A week after the arrest of Moreno and Castano, the investigation escalated to another level. Emily received a summon from the investigator, but it was not Vargas’ office that awaited her, but a large conference room.

At a long table sat several people in suits. In the center, a man in his 50s with medals on his uniform.

“Emily, let me introduce you to Colonel Samuel Black, head of the organized crime unit,” Vargas said. “Please have a seat.”

“What we are about to discuss now,” Black said, “must remain in the strictest confidence. We have some questions for you.”

“Go ahead. I am listening.”

“Thanks to you, we have uncovered a large criminal network, but we have reason to believe that your husband is not the leader, but just an enforcer.”

“You mean he has a boss?”

“Someone who provides him with information about potential victims, organizes the sale of stolen properties, and gives him protection.”

Emily’s brow furrowed. In Ethan’s messages, no boss was mentioned.

“And where does this information come from?”

“Pamela Serrano has given an additional statement. It turns out that Ethan met regularly with a certain Uncle Nick. He gave him a share of the profits and received instructions for new targets.”

“And who is this Uncle Nick?”

“We do not know yet. Ethan refuses to talk, but we have some leads.”

Black took out a folder with photos. Security cameras captured your husband meeting with an older man near a restaurant on the Upper East Side. The last meeting was 2 days before his trip to Miami.

In the photos, Emily saw Ethan with a gray-haired man wearing an expensive coat. The man’s face was turned away, but his general figure was visible.

“Does this face look familiar to you?”

“No, I have never seen him.”

“And the voice has Ethan ever spoken on the phone in front of you with someone he called Uncle Nick.”

Emily tried to remember. In recent months, Ethan often spoke on the phone going into another room, but she did not remember hearing that name.

“I do not recall such a conversation.”

“Understood. Then another question. Ethan had access to the notary public’s database, but the information about private clients, their income, properties came from somewhere else. Where exactly? Judging by the thefts, he had a source in the IRS or the banking system.”

“Someone was passing him data on wealthy elderly people.”

Emily pondered. It was true. How did Ethan know the marital status of the clients, their heirs, the size of their savings? Could Uncle Nick be that source? It is very likely.

“That is why we need your help. But for that, Ethan has to contact him himself.”

“And why would he do that?”

“If we promise him a reduced sentence in exchange for his cooperation,” Black paused, “or if he thinks he can escape.”

“How? You mean you will break him out of jail?”

“Of course. Under our control. Ethan will try to contact his boss, ask for help. We will catch the contact and get to Uncle Nick.”

“And the risk minimal. Ethan will be under constant surveillance. At the first real escape attempt, he will be arrested again.”

Emily thought about it. The plan was risky but tempting. Capturing the entire criminal network would mean protecting other potential victims.

“Agreed. What do I have to do?”

“Visit your husband in jail. Tell him you are willing to forgive him and help him. Maybe he will share information about his boss.”

“But I have filed for divorce.”

“Tell him you have changed your mind. That love is stronger than resentment. The important thing is that you convince him of your sincerity.”

Emily agreed.

The next day, she went to the detention center where Ethan was being held. Her ex-husband looked terrible, unshaven, thin in a prison uniform. There was nothing left of his former arrogance.

“Emily, I can’t believe it. You came?”

“Yes, I came.”

She sat down across from him.

“How is Noah and the baby?”

“Forgive me. I was a fool. Pamela tricked me. The money blinded me.”

“They are fine,” Emily lied.

“I have been thinking a lot about us, about our family.”

“And what conclusion did you come to?”

“That I do not want to destroy our family because of your mistakes. Yes, you were wrong, but we can fix everything.”

Ethan’s eyes lit up with hope.

“Are you willing to forgive me?”

“I am. On one condition: tell them the whole truth about your accompllices, about who helped you, gave you information. Maybe the investigation will be lenient and reduce your sentence.”

Ethan hesitated.

“Emily, it is complicated. There are people. It is better not to bother.”

“What kind of people?”

“Influential, connected to the government. If I talk, not only will I suffer.”

“Ethan, you are facing life in prison. There can be nothing worse.”

“Yes, there is. People like me do not last long in prison, especially if they find out I have ratted out the wrong people.”

“Who are you talking about?”

Ethan looked around, making sure the guard was not listening.

“Uncle Nick, Nicholas Ortega, deputy commissioner of the IRS. He runs the whole operation.”

Emily struggled not to show her surprise. So a high-ranking government official was involved.

“What exactly does he do?”

“He provides information on wealthy taxpayers, lists of properties, data on heirs, marital status, and he also provides protection. If any relative suspects, he buries the case.”

“In exchange for what?”

“Half of the profits. Ortega takes the largest share, but he also runs the greatest risk.”

“And now, now he probably wants to get rid of me. I know too much about his connections, his foreign accounts, his shell companies.”

“Ethan, what if the investigation guarantees your safety?”

“What safety? Ortega has connections in the DA’s office, in the courts, in the prison. He will get to meet anywhere.”

Emily realized she had obtained crucial information. Now she just had to use it correctly.

“And what if you escape?”

“Escape to where? I am in a detention center. Anything can happen. A transfer to court, a medical checkup.”

“Even if you escape, where would you go? Without money, without documents, to see Uncle Nick? He will help you if you are useful to him.”

“Ortega would only help me hide if I am useful to him. And now I am a risk and a burden to him.”

“But if you offer him something valuable.”

“Like what?”

“For example, information about the investigation, what they know and what they do not.”

Ethan thought about it.

“You know, maybe you are right. If I tell Ortega how the investigation is going, warn him of the danger, maybe he will help me flee the country.”

“Try to contact him from here. All calls are monitored through a lawyer or by passing a note to a cellmate.”

Emily, are you sure you are on my side? You are not working for the investigation.

Emily pretended to be hurt.

“Ethan, I am your wife, the mother of your children. Of course, I will always be on your side.”

“Sorry, I think I am going crazy in these walls.”

“I understand. The important thing is that we find a way to get you out of here.”

Ethan believed in his wife’s sincerity and promised to try to contact Ortega.

Emily left with a sense of victory. In the car, she immediately called Colonel Black.

“Samuel, I have a name. Nicholas Ortega, deputy commissioner of the IRS.”

“Ortega. Wow. We have long suspected his corruption, but we had no proof. Now we will. Ethan is willing to contact him.”

“Excellent. Let’s start the operation.”

The operation to capture Ortega was called Operation Vengeance. Colonel Black personally supervised every stage. Emily had been a crucial part of the chain, but her active participation ended there.

“From now on, it is too dangerous,” Black explained to her. “Ortega is a serious adversary. He has connections, money, power. If he finds out you are working for us, he might try to eliminate you.”

“But I want to see the end of this case.”

“You have already done the most important thing. You have led us to the boss. The rest is for professionals.”

Emily agreed to stay on the sidelines, but asked to be kept informed. Black promised to give her regular updates.

Three days later, Ethan’s escape was staged. During a transfer to the courthouse, the prisoner transport van had an accident. In the chaos, Ethan escaped. In reality, he was released under the control of the agents.

Ethan ran and borrowed a cell phone from a student, pretending to call an ambulance for an old man who had fallen on the corner. From memory, he dialed Ortega’s number. The agents car followed him from a distance.

“Nicholas, it is Ethan.”

“Are you crazy calling me directly?”

“I have no choice. I have escaped, but they will find me soon. I need help.”

“What help?”

“You are burned. Documents. Money. A way out of the country.”

“I have information about the investigation.”

“What information?”

“They know about you. They are looking for a certain uncle Nick. They are about to locate you.”

There was a long silence.

“Where are you now?”

“In the city with a borrowed phone. Then I will hide in the basement of an abandoned building. Vasquez Street number 15. Back basement. Wait there. In an hour, someone will come for you.”

The call was cut off.

Ethan returned the phone to the surprise student and headed to the indicated location, followed by the agents.

An hour later, a black Audi with tinted windows arrived at the building. Two men in leather jackets got out and entered the basement.

“Ethan,” one of them shouted.

“I am here,” Ethan replied from the darkness.

“Let’s go. The boss is waiting for you.”

They put Ethan in the car and took him away. Three teams followed them, alternating cars and motorcycles. They could not lose the target.

The Audi stopped near a luxury restaurant, the Monarch on the Gold Coast. They took Ethan through the back entrance to a private office on the second floor.

Behind a large desk sat Nicholas Ortega, a man in his 60s with gray hair and a cold gaze. Beside him, two bodyguards.

“Well, well, Ethan,” Ortega said with irritation. “What a mess you have made.”

“Nicholas, it is not my fault. My wife turned out to be smarter than I thought.”

“Your wife is a minor problem. The problem is that you got caught and that means you are dragging us all down.”

“But I have not said anything. I have been quiet as a tomb.”

“For now, you are quiet. But what will happen when you face life in prison? You will sing like a canary.”

“I will keep quiet. I promise.”

“Ethan, you have disappointed me. I invested a lot in you. I gave you the chance to make millions and you have ruined everything for a woman.”

“Give me a chance to fix it. Help me get out of the country. I will disappear forever.”

Ortega smiled dismissively. “Abroad. Do you take me for a fool? In a month, you would rat me out to foreign special services in exchange for asylum.”

“No, I am not a traitor.”

“Everyone is a traitor, Ethan. When life is at stake, everyone betrays. You know, I have a more radical idea.”

“What is it?”

“You die today. In an escape attempt, the dead do not testify.”

Ethan turned pale. “Nicholas, you cannot do that.”

“I can and I will. Alejandro, Victor,” he said to his bodyguards, “take him to the woods. Let him be breakfast for the wild dogs.”

The bodyguards approached Ethan. He backed away.

“Wait, I have information.”

“What information?”

“About the investigation. They are planning an operation against you. They know about your accounts.”

“How do you know?”

“My wife told me she is collaborating with the investigation.”

Ortega turned sharply. “What did you say?”

“Your wife works for the police?”

“Yes. She has found out about your plans. They plan to arrest you tomorrow.”

“You are lying.”

“No. Check it if you want.”

At that moment, the office door burst open. Agents and bulletproof vests entered.

“Hands up.”

Ortega tried to draw a weapon, but was quickly subdued. His bodyguards did not resist. They knew they were finished.

“Nicholas Ortega, you are under arrest for organizing a criminal group, corruption, and involvement in fraud.”

Ortega looked at Ethan with pure hatred.

“In the end, you betrayed me. You bastard.”

“First, I did not want to.”

“You will rot in jail, rat.”

Colonel Black himself put the handcuffs on Ortega.

“The game is over, Nicholas. We know about your foreign accounts, your shell companies, your bribes. There is enough for several life sentences.”

The arrest of Ortega was a bombshell. A corrupt official, the mastermind of a criminal scheme that had stolen over a billion dollars from the state. Cases like this made the front pages of the newspapers.

Emily saw the news on television. Ethan and Ortega in handcuffs, images of the raids, comments from experts. Justice had triumphed.

In the evening, Colonel Black called Emily.

“The operation was a success. Thanks to you, we have dismantled the largest corruption scheme in recent years.”

“And what happened to the other accompllices?”

“All arrested. Ortega, his people at the IRS, the real estate agents, the appraisers, the entire network has been dismantled.”

“How many years are they facing?”

“Many. The court will decide. And the damages, all assets are frozen. The victim families will receive full compensation.”

A week later, the hearing for the divorce of Emily and Ethan was held. The process took half an hour. Given the circumstances, the court saw no reason to maintain the marriage.

Leaving the courthouse, Emily felt light. A dark chapter of her life had ended. Ahead, a new beginning.

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