Chapter 12 - The Black Ledger
The ledger contained names.
Judges.
Executives.
Consultants.
Accountants.
Lobbyists.
Shell corporations.
Payments.
Dates.
Derek had kept his own insurance policy against Vane.
Smart.
Cowardly.
But smart.
"Why keep this?"
"Because I knew someday he'd turn on me."
Emily arrived with Mom after Dad was transported to the hospital.
The moment she saw Derek, she stopped.
He looked at her.
"Emily."
"Don't."
"I can fix this."
She stared at him.
"You kidnapped my father."
"I didn't."
"You stole from my family."
"I was going to put it back."
That sentence actually made her laugh.
Not because it was funny.
Because sometimes a lie becomes so insulting that anger has nowhere else to go.
"You were going to put back forty-two million dollars?"
"It wasn't supposed to go this far."
"You grabbed me."
"Emily—"
"You threatened me."
"I was under pressure."
"You made me afraid inside my own home."
Derek looked at me.
"Tell her."
I almost couldn't believe it.
"Tell her what?"
"That people make mistakes."
Emily's eyes filled with tears.
Then she shook her head.
"No."
Derek stepped toward her.
She stepped back.
That single movement destroyed whatever argument he had left.
She was afraid of him.
And everyone saw it.
Emily took off her wedding ring.
Derek stared.
She placed it on the hood of his car.
"I'm done."
His face collapsed.
"Emily."
"No."
She walked away.
Derek watched her.
Then whispered—
"If she leaves me, I have nothing."
I looked at him.
"Now you're beginning to understand what you tried to do to her."
His phone rang.
Unknown number.
Derek answered.
A voice spoke.
His face went white.
Then the call ended.
"What?" I asked.
Derek looked at me.
"Vane knows I gave you the ledger."
"And?"
May you like
He swallowed.
"He said he's going after your mother next."
