Chapter 8 - The Real Enemy Had Been Inside The Family
The man behind the attacks was not Gerald.
Not Anthony.
Not even the Ashcrofts.
It was Harold Vale.
Dominic's uncle.
He had spent decades manipulating both families.
He had arranged the original betrayal.
He had created the war between the Vales and Ashcrofts.
He had convinced Dominic that his father was responsible for Eleanor's disappearance.
And he had made sure Mave remained hidden.
Why?
Because the ledger contained evidence that Harold had secretly controlled both criminal networks.
Mave possessed the missing key.
The memory device from Bridget's box contained only half the evidence.
The other half was hidden inside a recording.
Eleanor finally confessed.
She had memorized the ledger because she knew Harold would search every physical hiding place.
"The code is in the recipe."
Mave looked down.
"The pear tart."
Eleanor nodded.
"The way Bridget taught you was not the old pronunciation."
"It was a code."
"Yes."
Mave repeated the word.
Three syllables.
Three numbers.
A password.
Dominic stared at her.
"Say it again."
She did.
The memory device unlocked.
Inside was a collection of files.
Bank accounts.
Photographs.
Video footage.
Payments.
Names.
Harold Vale.
Judges.
Police officers.
Politicians.
Businessmen.
The city was full of people who had belonged to him.
Dominic's face changed.
"I'll destroy him."
Mave touched his arm.
"No."
He looked at her.
"Why?"
"Because if you kill him, everyone will believe he was only a criminal."
Mave lifted the device.
"We expose him."
Dominic stared at her.
Then smiled.
For the first time, Mave understood why people followed him.
He did not need to shout.
He only needed to decide.
They returned to Chicago.
Within forty-eight hours, the files were distributed to federal investigators, independent journalists, and judges who had not been compromised.
The city erupted.
Arrests began.
Bank accounts froze.
Politicians resigned.
Police commanders disappeared into custody.
Harold fled.
Dominic found him at the old warehouse where Eleanor had disappeared.
Mave went with him.
"You shouldn't be here," Dominic said.
"I am done being hidden."
Harold stepped from the shadows.
He was older than she expected.
But his eyes were sharp.
"You look like your mother."
Mave answered, "I hear that a lot."
Harold smiled.
"You have no idea what you've unleashed."
"Neither did you."
He raised a gun.
Dominic moved.
A shot cracked.
Harold dropped.
But before he could fire again, Elias tackled him.
Dominic walked toward his uncle.
Harold laughed.
"You think you've won?"
Dominic looked down at him.
"No."
He looked at Mave.
"She won."
Harold's smile faded.
Because she had.
Not with a gun.
Not with money.
May you like
Not with power.
With truth.
