<b>Chapter </b><b>192 </b>


    The Hawke Group and Brannon–thepany name and the boldly stamped signature were all too familiar.


    This group was the Dolton Group’s biggest partner, and Peter had been very close friends with Mr. Langston.


    But how could Eliseo have had a contract with the Hawke Group ten years ago? As far as I knew, Eliseo wasn’t even an employee of the Dolton Group back then. What would he have needed this contract for?


    1 flipped through the contract again. It was for a partnership in renewable energy development, which now fell under the Dolton Group’s umbre. The project had matured and was <i>now </i>bringing in considerable profits.


    So, in strict terms, this contract technically belonged to the Dolton Group. But what struck me as odd was that


    Peter’s signature wasn’t anywhere on it.


    I set the contract aside and opened Eliseo’s notebook.


    It was his work journal, mostly filled with work ns and some symbols I didn’t understand. I flipped to thest


    page and saw five words written: “Wishing the signing goes smoothly.”


    After that, there was nothing. It was probably after that that Eliseo had a car ident.


    I remembered what he had said the night before his ident. “Zoey, after tomorrow, I’ll finally be able to build you


    that amusement park.”


    At the time, I cheered, hugged, and kissed him, never thinking to ask why.


    Now, it all made sense. If Eliseo had signed that contract with the Hawke Group, the development would have rivaled the sess of the Dolton Group today. He could have given me an amusement park, but more than that, he could have built an entire business empire. But after his death, it all turned into one big unanswered question.


    So, was Eliseo’s car ident somehow tied to this contract? Could it be that it wasn’t an ident at all? My mind instantly flooded with chaotic thoughts, and the weight of them sent a chill down my spine. I copsed to the floor of the utility room<i>, </i>unable to move for what felt like an eternity.


    Eventually, I decided to find out for myself. The only ce to start was with Brannon at the Hawke Group.


    Although I knew that meeting him out of the blue wasn’t an option, I also knew Brannon had a close rtionship with Peter. I had overheard Peter and Michelle talking about him a few years ago–he had battled dder cancer and was now living in retirement, focusing on his health. Alvin had taken over managing thepany.


    I just needed to ask Peter’s driver where Brannon lived, and then I could visit him under the pretense of checking <ol><li>in. </li></ol>


    I usually act on my thoughts without hesitation, but I knew asking the driver out of the blue would only make him suspicious. He had been with Peter for decades, longer than I’d been in the Dolton family. He hadsted that long because he was reliable and, above all, discreet.


    <b>1/2 </b>


    I needed to be careful if I wanted to gather information without raising any red gs.


    n


    I researched all the integrated rehabilitation and healthcare facilities in Seastone and quickly narrowed it down to the top three. However, I still had no idea which one Brannon was staying at. That’s when I realized I could still ask the driver for help, but I wouldn’t need to make him say a word.


    After thinking it through, I came up with a n. I could borrow the driver’s car and check the driving records to find out where he went. Peter visited Brannon monthly, so it wouldn’t be hard to track. But borrowing the car wouldn’t be easy. I already had a car; if I asked, Peter would give me a new one. I couldn’t use that excuse.


    AD