Chapter 13 - THE LAST DOOR
The hospital went into lockdown.
The girls were found safe.
The photograph had been taken through a window.
Victor was close.
Maya knew he wanted her afraid.
Instead, she became calm.
“Give me the ledger.”
Cole shook his head.
“No.”
“He wants me.”
“He wants the evidence.”
“He wants both.”
Her father refused.
Ethan, still recovering, agreed with Cole.
Maya ignored all of them.
For seven years, Ethan had made decisions for her.
For fourteen years, her father had hidden truths from her.
Victor had built an empire by deciding fear would control everyone.
Maya was finished letting men decide what she could survive.
She created her own plan.
At 11:40 p.m., Maya left the hospital carrying the original red ledger.
Alone.
At least that was what Victor believed.
His instructions led her to an abandoned courthouse.
The irony was deliberate.
A place built for justice.
Now empty.
She entered.
One hallway light burned.
At the end was a closed door.
A phone sat on the floor.
It began ringing.
Maya answered.
“Open the door.”
Victor.
She did.
He stood inside.
Alone.
“Ledger.”
Maya held it up.
“First, tell me why.”
Victor smiled.
“Why what?”
“My mother.”
“She threatened everything.”
“The children.”
“Leverage.”
“Ethan.”
“A disappointment.”
“Daniel.”
“A coward.”
“And me?”
Victor studied her.
“You were supposed to be ordinary.”
Maya almost smiled.
“My mother would have loved hearing that.”
Victor held out his hand.
“Ledger.”
Maya gave it to him.
He opened it.
Real pages.
Real names.
Real evidence.
He smiled.
Then Maya asked.
“Did you order my mother killed?”
Victor looked at her.
“You know I did.”
“I want to hear you say it.”
“Why?”
“Because she deserves that.”
Victor stepped closer.
“Yes.”
Maya’s heart pounded.
“I ordered it.”
“And File 42?”
“I ordered that too.”
“The girls?”
“They were leverage.”
Maya nodded.
“Thank you.”
Victor frowned.
“For what?”
A red light blinked beneath Maya’s collar.
Victor’s face changed.
Recorder.
May you like
Maya smiled.
“File 44.”
