Chapter 12 - VICTORIA’S CHOICE
Victoria appeared at Elena’s penthouse that night.
She looked exhausted.
Elena didn’t invite her in.
“Marcus said you were with him.”
“I was.”
“Why?”
“Because I needed him to believe I still belonged to him.”
Victoria opened her purse.
She removed a recorder.
Elena stared at it.
“What did you do?”
“What I should have done forty years ago.”
The recording contained Marcus discussing the shell companies.
The intimidation.
The false records.
Everything.
Elena looked at her mother.
“He’ll know.”
“Yes.”
“He’ll come after you.”
Victoria nodded.
“I know.”
Elena opened the door wider.
“Come inside.”
Victoria hesitated.
It wasn’t forgiveness.
Not yet.
But it was a beginning.
The next morning, federal agents executed warrants on three Vale Industries offices.
Marcus disappeared before they arrived.
For twelve hours, nobody knew where he was.
Then Elena received a photograph.
Thomas.
Leaving Bellevue.
Taken from across the street.
May you like
Underneath were six words.
BRING THE LEDGER OR LOSE HIM.
