Chapter 25
Chapter 25: A Deal with the Devil
I looked at the ledger in her frail, trembling hand. Even on her deathbed, Janet was trying to trade in secrets, corruption, and spite. She didn't want to use the ledger to clear her conscience; she wanted to use it as a bargaining chip for a softer pillow.
Marcus stepped forward, taking the notebook from her hand before she could pull it back. He flipped through the pages, his professional eyes scanning the dates, names, and dollar amounts. He looked up at me and nodded slowly. It was authentic, and it was explosive.
"What do you say, Claire?" Janet asked, her voice cracking with anticipation. "A private room? A nice view? It’s a small price to pay for what’s in that book."
I walked up to the side of her bed. I looked at the woman who had spent my entire life telling me I wasn't good enough, the woman who had happily stolen my daughter's future to fund an illusion.
"No, Janet," I said softly.
Her face fell, her eyes widening in horror. "What? But the book—"
"The book is evidence of a crime," I interrupted. "Marcus is going to hand it directly to the federal prosecutor handling Robert’s case. It will likely add another five years to his sentence for corporate bribery, and it will clean up the local corruption."
"You... you trapped me!" she screamed, her voice turning into a ragged screech. "You can't just take it! That's mine!"
May you like
"You handed evidence of a federal crime to a lawyer and a victim of your previous fraud, Janet," I said, turning my back on her. "There is no deal. You will stay exactly where you are, in the room the state provided for you. You earned this room. Enjoy the view."
Her curses followed us all the way down the corridor, but they sounded weak, empty, and entirely powerless.
