Chapter 17 - THE TRADE
Marcus wanted immunity.
Not from me.
From prosecutors.
He believed I had enough influence with investigators to help negotiate cooperation.
He was partly right.
He had information they wanted.
He also had the second Crown file.
Daniel warned me that Marcus would manipulate any meeting.
Federal agents arranged it anyway.
The location was controlled.
The conversation recorded.
Marcus entered wearing the same black coat from the gas station footage.
He sat across from me.
No apology.
No fear.
“Brooke is dramatic.”
I stared at him.
“You abducted her.”
“She came voluntarily at first.”
“And then you locked her in a room.”
His mouth tightened.
“Things became complicated.”
I leaned back.
“You're exactly like Victor.”
That irritated him.
Good.
“Victor thinks he's God.”
“And you?”
“I think I'm realistic.”
“About kidnapping women?”
“About survival.”
Marcus looked toward the investigators behind the glass.
“I have evidence that can destroy Victor.”
“Then give it to them.”
“I need guarantees.”
“That isn't my decision.”
“No.”
He looked at me.
“But you can influence whether they believe me.”
I laughed.
“You've spent years turning influence into corruption.”
“You'll forgive me if I don't help.”
Marcus leaned forward.
“Then Victor wins.”
I said nothing.
“He has judges.”
“Executives.”
“Attorneys.”
“Consultants.”
“People who don't even know they're helping him.”
“You take him down by proving the entire structure.”
I looked at him.
“Where is the file?”
“Safe.”
“What does it contain?”
“The master list.”
Daniel had mentioned the possibility.
Victims.
Targets.
Participants.
Payments.
“Names?”
“All of them.”
Marcus smiled faintly.
“Including someone you trust right now.”
My pulse changed.
“Who?”
“No.”
“Then we're done.”
I stood.
“Claire.”
I kept walking.
“Thomas Keller.”
I stopped.
The room tilted.
My CEO.
The man who had defended me.
The man who came to my penthouse.
The man who said he believed me.
I turned slowly.
“What about Thomas?”
Marcus looked satisfied.
“His name is in Crown.”
“As what?”
“Beneficiary.”
I sat again.
Marcus continued.
“Victor financed Thomas's first company.”
“Thomas later brought Evelyn into yours.”
“Then Evelyn brought you.”
A chain.
Again.
Always a chain.
“Does Thomas know what they did?”
“I don't know.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“No.”
“I expect you to investigate.”
Marcus finally slid a small key across the table.
“Storage unit.”
“Where?”
“Pueblo.”
“What's inside?”
“Copies.”
“Of Crown?”
“Some.”
“Why should we trust you?”
“You shouldn't.”
For the first time, he sounded truthful.
Federal agents took the key.
Hours later, they entered the storage unit.
Inside were twenty-seven boxes.
Three encrypted servers.
Six phones.
And one wall covered with photographs.
My photograph was at the center.
Thomas Keller's was directly above mine.
Victor Hale's was at the top.
May you like
But the photograph beside Victor's shocked everyone.
It showed my late father.
