Bennett looked at the technician. “Can you trace the last location?”

He nodded. “Most files stop five years ago. But there’s one encrypted note from later.” He opened it. The message was short.

If anything happens to me, find Caleb Ward in Livingston, Montana. He owes me one truth.

Bennett whispered, “We’re going to need federal help.”

Chapter 4 — Grief Fills Blanks

By dawn, the FBI was involved. By noon, Michael Reeves was being watched. By evening, his old financial network was unfolding like a rotten map.

Michael had been more than Daniel’s friend — he’d been his partner in a logistics company that moved equipment across state lines. He’d used it to launder money for violent creditors, then framed Daniel as the internal source when the pressure came.