Chapter 7 - My Cousin Took the Blame for a Crime He Didn't Commit
Evan surrendered himself the next morning.
I couldn't believe it.
"Why?"
"Because if Desmond thinks I'm cooperating with the police, he'll come after my mother."
"You should have told me."
"I know."
He smiled sadly.
"I'm tired of being the villain in your head."
I felt guilt.
"I was wrong."
He nodded.
"Yes."
The police took him.
Claire stayed beside me.
She had become more than my secretary.
More than an investigator.
She was the person I trusted most.
But there was still one secret.
The final memory on the chip.
We found it in Daniel's old apartment.
A phrase.
Bluebird.
Claire entered it.
The file opened.
A list of shell accounts appeared.
Then one name.
Roman Mercer.
I stared.
"What?"
Claire looked shocked.
"You're one of the accounts."
"I don't have an offshore account."
"Not you personally."
"The company."
A transfer schedule appeared.
Money had been moving through Blackridge for years.
But it hadn't been coming from me.
It had been redirected from another company into my name.
Someone had been building evidence that I was the mastermind.
Claire looked at me.
"Desmond planned to frame you."
"Why?"
"Because you're the only person with enough control to destroy the network."
I laughed bitterly.
"He wanted me arrested."
"Worse."
She showed me a legal document.
If Roman Mercer is removed, control transfers to Evan Mercer.
Evan had been set up too.
Desmond wanted both cousins destroyed.
The family would become his.
We went to see Evan.
I apologized.
He stared at me through the glass.
"You finally believe me."
"Yes."
He smiled.
"Then let's finish it."
Evan had information.
Desmond kept a private office beneath an old theater.
We went there that night.
The theater had been abandoned for years.
Behind the stage was a steel door.
Inside was a room full of files.
Claire found Daniel's final recording.
Desmond entered.
"You really are stubborn."
I raised my gun.
"This ends tonight."
He laughed.
"Does it?"
He pressed a button.
A video appeared.
Monica's daughter.
Alive.
"Put the gun down."
I did.
Claire whispered:
"Don't."
Desmond approached.
"Your father built this empire."
"No."
"Your grandfather did."
"No."
"Your mother protected it."
"No."
"Your cousin profited from it."
Evan stepped forward.
"No."
Desmond smiled.
"And you?"
He looked at Claire.
"You were the final key."
Claire's eyes narrowed.
"Why me?"
"Because Daniel trusted you."
Desmond handed her a document.
Her brother's handwriting.
Claire read it.
Then started crying.
Daniel had discovered the truth about Desmond.
He hadn't been killed for the ledger.
He had been killed because he refused to give Desmond Claire's location.
Desmond had spent years searching for her.
Claire closed her eyes.
"You killed my brother."
"Yes."
The room went silent.
She looked at me.
I knew what she was thinking.
Revenge.
But Claire stepped back.
"No."
Desmond frowned.
"I'm not giving you what you want."
She handed the document to the investigators.
"Your confession is recorded."
Desmond froze.
The camera behind him was live.
Everything had been captured.
The police entered.
Desmond was arrested.
Monica's daughter was rescued.
Evan was released.
My father emerged from hiding.
For the first time in years, the family stood together.
Not perfect.
Not healed.
But honest.
Then my father said:
"There is one final thing."
He turned toward Claire.
"You deserve to know why I hired you."
She looked at him.
"Why?"
"Because Daniel asked me to protect you."
Claire cried.
"You knew him."
"Yes."
"Then why didn't you save him?"
My father lowered his head.
May you like
"I tried."
It was the only answer he could give.
