Chapter 9 - The Last Party
The rooftop was empty when they arrived.
Rain swept across the marble floor. The pool lights flickered beneath the dark water. The skyline had disappeared behind low clouds.
Maya walked toward the center of the terrace.
Claire stood near the far railing.
She had changed from the elegant woman at the party. Her hair was loose, her makeup streaked, and one hand held a black metal case.
Behind her stood Helena Whitmore.
The older woman wore a long cream coat and held an umbrella.
Victor stopped several feet away.
“You shouldn’t be here,” he said.
Helena smiled.
“Neither should you.”
Lena and the investigators spread out behind Maya.
Claire looked at Maya.
“You ruined everything.”
“No,” Maya replied. “You did that yourself.”
“You think people will believe you?”
“The video, the bank records, the contracts, and the ledger are already with federal investigators.”
Claire’s face twisted.
“You don’t understand how this city works.”
“I understand exactly how it works. People like you assume money makes you untouchable.”
Helena stepped forward.
“Money doesn’t make us untouchable. Information does.”
She lifted the black case.
“Every powerful person in Chicago has something to lose. Judges. Politicians. CEOs. Even the people investigating us.”
“Is that supposed to frighten me?”
“It should.”
Helena opened the case.
Inside was a hard drive.
“The original financial archive,” she said. “The one thing that could connect me to every illegal transfer.”
Maya looked at the case.
“Why show it to me?”
“Because I want a deal.”
“You’re in no position to make one.”
“I can disappear tonight. You can have the drive. In return, you withdraw the Reed Trust action and tell the investigators that Victor Hale acted alone.”
Victor stepped forward.
“No.”
Helena glanced at him.
“You are the reason Samuel died.”
Victor flinched.
“You left him there,” she continued. “You watched him bleed.”
“I called for help.”
“After you walked away.”
Maya looked at Victor.
He did not defend himself.
Helena smiled.
“That is the truth, Maya. Your father trusted Victor more than anyone. Victor chose his company. He chose his son. He chose his own life.”
Ethan moved toward her.
“Don’t talk about me.”
“Why not? You benefited from his silence.”
Ethan’s face tightened.
“I was a child.”
“So was Maya.”
The rain grew heavier.
Maya looked at Claire.
“Did you know my father was alive after the accident?”
Claire’s eyes moved toward Helena.
“That was before my time.”
“Your signature is on the media contract.”
“I was twenty.”
“You were old enough to cash the checks.”
Claire gripped the case.
“Your father destroyed people. He attacked businesses. He threatened to expose private information.”
“He discovered fraud.”
“He was going to take everything from my family.”
“Your family stole everything from mine.”
Helena reached into her coat.
Lena immediately raised her weapon.
“Hands where I can see them.”
Helena stopped.
But Claire moved faster.
She threw the hard drive into the pool.
Maya ran.
Ethan grabbed Claire before she could follow it.
Claire screamed and struck him across the face.
Victor stepped toward Helena.
For one second, the rooftop became a blur of rain, shouting, and flashing lights from the city below.
Maya jumped into the pool.
The water was freezing.
The hard drive sank toward the bottom.
She opened her eyes and saw it resting near the drain.
A hand reached into the water.
Ethan pulled her upward.
Maya surfaced, clutching the drive.
Claire stared at her.
“You’re insane!”
Maya climbed out.
“No. I’m finished being afraid.”
Helena turned toward the elevator.
Lena blocked her path.
“You are under arrest.”
Helena laughed.
“You have no idea who I know.”
Lena held up the federal warrant.
“We know enough.”
Marcus Vale suddenly appeared from the service entrance.
He held a gun.
Everyone froze.
“Drop it!” Lena shouted.
Marcus pointed the weapon toward Maya.
Victor moved between them.
The gun fired.
Victor fell.
Ethan shouted and lunged forward.
Marcus turned toward the elevator, but Daniel Cross stepped from behind the doorway and struck his arm with a metal bar.
The weapon clattered across the floor.
Security officers rushed in.
Marcus was forced to the ground.
Maya dropped beside Victor.
Blood spread across his shirt.
“Call an ambulance!”
Ethan pressed both hands against the wound.
Victor opened his eyes.
“Maya,” he whispered.
“Stay awake.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t talk.”
“I should have helped him.”
“You can explain later.”
Victor looked toward the pool.
“The drive?”
Maya held it up.
“Safe.”
He gave the smallest smile.
“Good.”
The ambulance arrived within minutes.
Victor was taken to the hospital with a gunshot wound to his shoulder. He survived.
Helena Whitmore was arrested for financial crimes, witness intimidation, and conspiracy.
Claire was arrested with her.
Marcus Vale confessed within forty-eight hours.
He admitted Helena ordered the sabotage of Samuel’s boat. He admitted Victor had been threatened, but he also confirmed that Victor had abandoned Samuel before help arrived.
The evidence was finally complete.
For the first time in eleven years, Maya had the truth.
May you like
But truth did not feel like victory.
Not yet.
