“I think so. I haven’t spent any time with the file. I just found it.” Three months ago, but who was counting. He’d opened it—he’d opened all the files in case there was something he could use for leverage.
This one had been particularly disturbing. From what he understood, the seedy underbelly of the Tremaine Corporation had created quite a racket in the used organs market. People whisked right off the streets and into the organ market. He’d sent this file and the others to Mr. Tremaine’s assistant when he’d believed the other man was seeking leverage to bring the company down.
Ash sighed. That certainly hadn’t turned out the way he’d expected.
“Open it.” Her voice was resigned.
A few keystrokes unlocked and decrypted the file. Images spilled onto the screen. He averted his eyes. He’d seen them before. The gruesome pictures made him queasy.
Portia swallowed hard.
As heir to the company, Portia had been involved in the business since she was a child. Ash had always assumed that she was as corrupt as her father, but she genuinely appeared shocked by every new reveal.
“How could you be an executive and remain unaware of these programs?”
Oh, shit. He hadn’t meant to ask that.
Forcing himself to own the question he’d asked, he twisted around to see her reaction.
Her face pale and her jaw set, she gestured at the images. “You think I sanctioned this? Harvesting organs from indigents? From people too fucking sick or stoned to make rational decisions? Not to mention, their parts have to be in terrible shape.”
Her voice wobbled on parts. Interesting.
He filed that tidbit away. It might be useful someday.
“Well?”
Shit. She wasn’t going to let it go. He’d asked a brutal question—he owed her honesty back.
“Your role is way above my pay grade. And obviously, you’ve worked here way longer than I have,” he said. “I have no idea what happens up here. You say you didn’t do it? Fine, I believe you. But your name is on the building. You can’t blame me for thinking that you’re in charge of everything.”
“I didn’t know about this. Any of this.” Resignation coated her voice, as if she were becoming accustomed to the hits.
“I believe you.” He did.
“Thank you. But you’re right. With my father gone, these are my messes now.”
An apology from a Tremaine. He tried not to let his shock show.
She sighed. “You believe the other file is about drugs?”
“Yeah.” Ash closed the organ harvesting file and opened the other. “It looks like it started as a legit program for cyberlimb transplants but they discovered serious side effects.”
She pinched the bridge of her nose. “Any other bad news?”
“Not yet. I haven’t fully decrypted all the files.” He had, but no need to show all his cards at once. Plus, she looked like she couldn’t take another hit.
“This is a nightmare.” She ran her hands through her hair, leaving the blond strands disheveled.
It was the first time he’d seen her stressed.
“What can I do to help?”Fuck!Had he really offered to help the woman holding his sister hostage?
“Keep digging and find out who buried these files.” She turned on her heel. The click of her heels was more of a stomp as she returned to her desk. “And locate the person who abetted my father’s assistant.”
Ash cleared the screen. “Which is the priority?”
“Both.”
