Chapter 13 - THE LAST THING HE COULD LOSE
Roman put the phone on speaker in Nora’s office.
Charles wanted Claire’s original records, the recovered archive, and a signed statement that the guardianship dispute had been a family misunderstanding.
In exchange, he offered to leave Charleston and withdraw the allegations against Rachel.
“Those records are already with investigators,” Roman said.
“Copies can be challenged.”
Nora wrote one word on a pad.
END.
Roman didn’t ask Charles to confess. He didn’t bargain over his son.
“Contact my attorney,” he said, and hung up.
His hands stayed flat on the desk.
“He has more,” Roman said.
Nora waited.
For years, Charles had managed payments Roman knew better than to examine. Cash settlements. Hidden interests. Men whose work never appeared on an honest invoice.
Roman had allowed ambiguity because it protected him.
Now Charles could use it to make every truthful word sound like a negotiation between criminals.
“I have original ledgers,” Roman said. “At a warehouse office.”
Nora closed her pad.
“We need to discuss what providing them could mean for you.”
They did. Carefully. For nearly two hours.
There were no promises of immunity, no magical paper that turned old choices into good intentions.
When they finished, Roman authorized her to arrange a lawful transfer.
“My son needs a father who comes home,” he said. “But if I buy that by keeping Charles safe, I’m still leaving someone else to pay.”
At the warehouse, the records custodian met investigators and Nora. Roman waited by the loading door, far from the office he had once treated like his private kingdom.
Then Dean called.
“Charles’s assistant is here with a truck.”
“Where?”
“The side entrance. He has a removal order signed with your name.”
Roman looked toward the narrow lane.
Two workers were raising the truck’s rear door. The assistant stood beside them holding a clipboard.
For an instant, Roman felt the old solution rise in him: walk over, take the clipboard, make sure nobody forgot who owned the building.
Instead, he turned to the investigator.
“I didn’t authorize that removal.”
The investigator went to the truck. Dean stayed where he was told.
Inside were empty archive boxes and a list of file numbers.
Claire’s transaction file was first.
The assistant stared at the officers, then at Roman.
“I want a lawyer,” he said.
Roman nodded.
May you like
Then the assistant’s phone began to ring.
Charles’s name filled the screen.
