Chapter 12 - THE SENATOR
Emergency lights flickered on.
Sloane was gone.
A blood trail led through a side door.
Hayes cursed.
“Secret exit.”
Julian pressed his hand against his shoulder.
Lily clung to him.
“We need medical help.”
“No.”
“Julian—”
“No. We finish this.”
Hayes stared.
“You’re bleeding through your shirt.”
“And someone is trying to kill my daughter.”
Hayes nodded once.
“Then we finish it.”
They followed the trail.
It ended outside near an underground garage.
A black SUV was gone.
Hayes called state police.
Julian called Thomas’s bank.
One hour later, after his shoulder was bandaged, they entered Union Bank under federal escort.
Box 417 contained three things.
A recorder.
A sealed letter.
And a ledger.
Julian pressed play.
His father’s voice filled the room.
“If Julian is hearing this, Eleanor has gone too far.”
Julian closed his eyes.
The recording continued.
“Eleanor is not acting alone. Senator Charles Mercer has used the Vance Foundation for years to move illegal campaign money through charitable accounts.”
Hayes whispered, “Mercer.”
One of the most powerful senators in Washington.
Julian opened the ledger.
Names.
Dates.
Transfers.
Millions.
Mercer’s name appeared again and again.
Then another entry.
CAROLINE — EXPOSURE RISK.
Julian’s hands shook.
His father’s voice continued.
“Caroline discovered the transfers while reviewing foundation tax documents. I told her to stay quiet. She refused. She planned to go to federal authorities.”
Julian stared ahead.
“She died because she found the money.”
Hayes nodded.
His father continued.
“I failed her. If Lily is ever threatened, release everything.”
Julian opened the sealed letter.
It was addressed to him.
Son,
If you are reading this, I was too afraid to do the right thing while I still had time.
Do not protect our name.
Protect the truth.
Julian’s eyes burned.
Then his phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
“Julian.”
Eleanor.
He stood.
“How did you get a phone?”
“That doesn’t matter.”
“You’re in federal custody.”
“Was.”
His blood froze.
“What do you want?”
“Bring the ledger to the old Vance textile mill.”
“No.”
“Then you’ll never see Thomas alive again.”
Julian glanced at Hayes.
“What did you do?”
Eleanor’s voice turned cold.
May you like
“What I should have done years ago.”
Then Julian heard Thomas scream.
