Chapter 8 - The Cornered Rat
I grabbed the steel box, clutching it against my ribs. "Get away from me," I said, backing toward the hallway that led to the ICU ward.
"Miss Vance, let's not make this difficult," the first lawyer said, stepping into my path. "You are in possession of stolen corporate property. If you do not turn those files over immediately, we will have the hospital security detain you, and we will file federal charges against you for obstruction and corporate espionage."
"Try it," a voice rang out from behind them.
We all turned.
Standing at the end of the hall was a tall woman in a sharp navy-blue pantsuit, holding a leather briefcase. Her silver hair was styled in a sharp bob, and her dark eyes were cold as obsidian.
"District Attorney Victoria Reyes," she announced, displaying a gold badge from her coat pocket. Behind her stood four armed State Police officers. "Gentlemen, you are trespassing in an active crime scene investigation area. And if you take one more step toward my key witness, I will have you both placed in federal holding for witness intimidation before sunrise."
The two corporate lawyers stiffened. The lead attorney narrowed his eyes. "Reyes. This is a local matter. Mr. Voss has high-level jurisdiction protection—"
"Mr. Voss's 'jurisdiction protection' was Police Chief Thomas," Reyes interrupted smoothly, a sharp, deadly smile touching her lips. "And Chief Thomas was relieved of his duties twenty minutes ago after State Police raided his office and found three hundred thousand dollars in cash in his safe. Cash that matches the serial numbers from the Voss Timber trust fund."
The lawyer’s face went pale.
"Now," Reyes said, stepping past them toward me. "Get out of my hospital."
The two fixers looked at each other, realized the tide had completely turned, turned on their heels, and walked briskly toward the elevators.
Victoria Reyes turned to me, her eyes lingering on the heavy steel box in my arms and the soot-stained, bloodied wedding dress I was still wearing.
"Sloane Vance?" she asked gently.
"Yes," I breathed, my knees suddenly going weak.
"I'm state prosecutor Victoria Reyes. Six years ago, I tried to investigate Elara Voss’s disappearance, but I was stripped of the case and threatened with disbarment by the city council. I've been waiting six years for tonight."
She looked down at the box. "Is that what I think it is?"
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"It’s everything," I said, my voice cracking as tears finally spilled over my cheeks. "It’s the money, the bribes, the names... and the truth about my father."
Reyes put a warm hand on my shoulder. "Then let's finish this."
