The Memory Keeper: The Sin In Our Name

The crisp, cold light of the digital clock on Lia Tanaka's desk blinked 2:42 AM. Her office was silent except for the faint hum of the air conditioning and the occasional rattle of her keyboard keys as she typed. The city outside was asleep, but in her mind, the wheels of her carefully crafted plan were spinning faster than ever. Lia's plan was almost complete, but not yet. The final phase had not yet been executed, and there were still millions to siphon. The very last pieces of her intricate web had to fall into place.

St. Martha's Hospital, her secret financial lair, was now a near-completed shell. The foundation of the project was solid, with various offshore accounts in place and funded through shell companies that kept their origin hidden. She'd strategically placed false invoices and inflated contractor fees to pad the construction costs. Her involvement with a few key officials in the hospital's administration ensured that there would be little scrutiny as the funds were laundered through multiple layers of fake payments, ensuring the flow of money was undetectable.

Lia sat back in her chair, eyes fixed on the screen displaying the Stanton Corporation's main financial account. The numbers were still enormous, and yet, with each passing second, she could feel the weight of her victory slipping through her fingers. She'd only taken a fraction of the total—just enough to cause panic, to create the illusion of crisis—but the full transfer had yet to be executed. The funds she had managed to move so far were substantial enough to make the board question everything, but not enough to completely destroy the company. Not yet.

There was a sense of urgency gnawing at her. The closer she came to success, the more aware she became of the danger that loomed. Lucan Stanton was not a man to be underestimated, even now with his company teetering on the edge of collapse. And his family... they were becoming a growing concern. She couldn't afford for anyone to uncover her involvement before the money was safely out of reach.

She ran her fingers through her dark hair, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the bank accounts once more. The funds were still there—untouched—waiting for the final push. She had to be careful. If she moved too quickly, the accounting team at Stanton Corporation would catch on. They were already investigating irregularities, and their focus was narrowing. Her accomplices on the board had done their job—keeping the heat off of her—but it wouldn't last forever. If Lucan or anyone else discovered how deep the sabotage ran, she'd be finished.

With one final click, Lia initiated another round of transfers, moving smaller sums of money into the network of accounts that would eventually lead to the hidden vaults she'd created. This time, she ensured the transfers were masked under the guise of legitimate medical supplies for St. Martha's, the cost of which had already been inflated beyond recognition. If anyone looked closely, it would seem like routine hospital expenditures, but anyone who knew how to look would see the trail she was leaving.

Her fingers hovered over the keyboard for a long moment. She knew that once she crossed this final threshold, there would be no going back. But her plan was too close to completion to hesitate now. She had manipulated the system with the precision of a surgeon, and there was no chance of recovery for the Stantons if she moved quickly.

Her phone buzzed, cutting through the tension in the room. It was a message from one of her board insiders, Mr. Wilshire. He had always been the most cautious, but tonight, he had a different tone.

"We have a problem. They've noticed the gap in the accounts. The investigation is escalating."

Lia's heart skipped a beat. She stared at the message, her fingers frozen on the keys. The Stantons were beginning to close in. She'd expected it, but the speed with which they were catching on was unsettling.

"Don't worry. I have it under control. Continue stalling them. The moment they bring in the authorities, we make our final move."

She hit send, her mind racing through the possibilities. The authorities were a risk she couldn't afford—too much scrutiny could undo everything. But they hadn't involved them yet, and she needed just a little more time to complete the job.