Chapter 104 Catching the Fraud
In the fourth year of Brenda and Gale's relationship, she secretly broke into Gale's study to look through acquisition documents for a farm, hoping her family could buy it at a low price before Gale did.
After being caught, Brenda said her father made her do it, while her father claimed Brenda acted on her own.
The truth didn't matter, but because of this incident, the relationship between the Sorelli family and Brenda's family was never the same.
Fortunately, the important acquisition materials weren't lost—only some unimportant things went missing. Gale eventually forgave Brenda, but he was still hurt by it.
Looking at the forged document in my hand, I immediately thought of what happened back then.
If it really was Brenda, then she deliberately chose to pull this scam while Gale was on a flight.
James also mentioned that the person on the phone was pushing hard.
"Agree to it," I said coldly. "But tell her the amount is too large for a wire transfer—it's risky, and the bank's about to close anyway. We can only give her cash."
"Cash?" James paused. "We don't have that much money."
I smiled. Did he think I was actually going to give Brenda money?
James caught on. "I got it, I'll tell her right away!"
I tapped my fingers on the desk. "Have finance prepare two boxes filled with blank paper, with a layer of dollar bills on top for show."
"Yes!" James replied.
I leaned back in my chair, watching the sun slowly sink outside the window.
Brenda wants money? Let's see if she's got what it takes to get it!
Brenda chose an old parking lot near the airport for the handoff—probably planning to take the money and run.
Adrian drove into the parking lot, and I observed the situation through the car window.
This parking lot was built before the airport, mainly used by residents who lived and worked in the nearby blocks.
Around 7 PM, right at dinner time, there were quite a few cars. Passersby who saw seven or eight thugs gathered together smoking, drinking, and telling dirty jokes would glance at them warily, clutch their pockets, and hurry away.
"Where's Brenda?" I asked.
Cole wasn't sitting in the passenger seat today—he was next to me, while a finance specialist sat up front.
He immediately called Brenda. "I'm here. Where are you?"
Brenda said on the other end, "Put the money in parking spot C104, then you can leave."
The finance specialist huffed indignantly. "You want me to just drop over ten million dollars and leave? Are you crazy? How could Mr. Sorelli have such a stupid employee?"
Brenda was clearly getting angry, but she held back. "I'm stuck in traffic! If you're not in a hurry to leave, then wait!" She hung up forcefully.
The finance specialist looked at me. I nodded. "Wait then."
I didn't mind waiting a few minutes. The one in a hurry would only be Brenda, never me.
Five minutes later, Brenda called again, saying traffic was terrible, and once more urged the finance specialist to leave the money and go.
Since it was on speaker, I could hear that Brenda's surroundings were very quiet, with a faint echo—she was probably hiding somewhere in the parking lot.
I shook my head at the finance specialist, who refused Brenda and hung up. I saw those thugs looking around, as if they were searching for someone.
I thought for a few seconds, then had the finance specialist get out with the money boxes and circle parking spot C104 from a distance a couple of times.
The finance specialist cautiously bent over as he got out, only straightening up once he was farther away.
Those thugs quickly noticed him and slowly closed in.
When they were only a few yards apart, the finance specialist pretended to panic and ran, but didn't get far before being caught, and the money boxes were snatched away.
"Damn it! These things have passwords!"
"Ask him what the password is!"
"How much money can these two boxes hold? Is there a million dollars?"
A tall man raised his fist threateningly at the finance specialist, who immediately answered, "The password is six ones."
Just as the thugs were about to open the boxes, Brenda emerged from a corner. "Alright, give me the money."
One thug was reluctant. "Let us open it and check for you."
Several burly bodyguards in black followed behind Brenda. The men in black walked toward the thugs, who unwillingly handed over the boxes. "Even though only one person came, you still have to pay us what you promised!"
"I know," Brenda answered impatiently. She opened a box, and seeing the neatly stacked dollar bills on top, the greed in her eyes grew brighter. But when she grabbed a handful of money and saw the white paper underneath, her face instantly changed!
"You're playing me!" Brenda glared angrily at the finance specialist.
The finance specialist immediately dropped his meek expression and broke free from the thug holding him.
"Grab him!" Brenda roared, but the next second, she held her breath and didn't dare move—because she saw in the reflection of a nearby car window that there was a laser red dot on her forehead.
After enjoying the scene of Brenda being played, I calmly got out of the car.
"Isabella?" Brenda's whole body stiffened. "What are you doing here?"
"Catching a stupid scammer." I walked toward her step by step.
Cold sweat broke out on Brenda's forehead. "Don't worry about me! Just kill her! I'll give each of you half a million dollars!"
The bodyguards in black didn't move, cautiously and awkwardly protecting Brenda.
The thugs hesitated but looked excited, exchanging glances for a few seconds before walking toward me with iron bars and knives.
I didn't know whether to praise their courage or laugh at their ignorance. Couldn't they see Brenda was being targeted by a sniper?
Did they think they could take me down with those weapons?
The thug in front didn't even get within ten yards of me before Adrian grabbed his wrist and twisted it backward. A crisp snap—the sound of breaking bone and screaming rang out together.
The other thugs instinctively stopped, and two of them slowly backed away, wanting to escape.
In less than a minute, Adrian dealt with these small-time thugs, and those trying to escape were knocked down by the finance specialist.
I looked at Brenda. The bodyguards around her had already dispersed, respectfully saying to me, "We're not doing this job. This woman is yours to deal with."
I said nothing. The lead bodyguard glanced at me carefully, then quickly got in his car and left.
The thugs lying on the ground groaning also scrambled up and fled, supporting each other.
I didn't make things difficult for them. I only wanted to make things difficult for Brenda.
"Come back! You useless trash!" Brenda knelt before me. "I was wrong, I just wanted money, I wanted a good life. You don't understand what poverty feels like—the little place I'm living in now is no different from a chicken coop!"
"How would I not understand?" I murmured softly.
Cole walked behind Brenda and pushed her. Brenda fell to the ground, then grabbed my ankle, crying and pleading, "Bella, please let me go, I promise there won't be a next time!"
I kicked her hand away and stepped on her head.
Brenda cried out in pain, her cheek pressed against the rough ground, tears rolling down.
Her crying held undisguised fear, but it couldn't move me. I asked Cole for a cigarette, lit it but didn't smoke it, just held it between two fingers.
The silent atmosphere and the ash falling on Brenda's hair and before her eyes made her more and more afraid. I could feel her trembling beneath my foot.
I turned to look behind me. Was it my imagination? It seemed like someone was watching me.