Chapter 7 - The Ledger Was Published, but the Most Dangerous Name in It Was Not Matteo’s—It Belonged to the City Official Everyone TrustedWe released the ledger.
Not all at once.
Through attorneys.
Investigators.
Federal agencies.
Journalists.
The city exploded.
Judges resigned.
Police commanders were arrested.
Politicians disappeared from public view.
Corporate executives fled.
Matteo became the most wanted man in the state.
But one name frightened me more than all the others.
Mayor Thomas Weller.
The most respected politician in Portland.
He had attended charity events.
Spoken about public safety.
Worked with police.
He appeared innocent.
He wasn't.
He had been receiving money for twenty years.
He had protected Matteo.
He had buried investigations.
He had arranged contracts.
And he knew about Eva.
He knew she had witnessed the original betrayal.
He had helped silence her.
I stared at the evidence.
“Take him.”
Federal agents moved.
Weller tried to flee.
He was arrested at the airport.
The city changed overnight.
People realized how deep the corruption went.
The Moretti organization collapsed.
Not because a rival defeated us.
Because we chose to expose ourselves.
That was painful.
Necessary.
But there was still one person missing.
May you like
Matteo.
And he knew the entire truth.
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