Chapter 10 - The JudgeThe man behind the badge
We escaped the warehouse minutes before the fire consumed half the building.
The women were transported to a secure location.
The records were copied.
But the list of corrupt officials created a new problem.
We couldn't trust everyone.
Not police.
Not federal offices.
Not judges.
Not even people Dad had worked beside.
Marianne made a difficult decision.
“We go outside official channels.”
Dad nodded.
“No phones.”
“No email.”
“No standard databases.”
I asked why.
“Because we don't know who owns them.”
That night, Dad took me to a safe apartment.
Robert came with us.
I hated having him there.
But he had information we needed.
For the first time, we sat across from each other without pretending to be husband and wife.
“Tell me everything,” I said.
Robert stared at the floor.
“Voss had people inside the company.”
“Who?”
“I never knew all their names.”
“Try.”
He did.
Accountants.
Drivers.
Security contractors.
One assistant.
Then he said:
“There was a woman.”
“Who?”
“She worked for the judge.”
“Judge Avery?”
He nodded.
“Her name was Nora.”
Dad looked at Marianne.
“Find her.”
Nora was found the next morning.
She arrived shaking.
She brought documents.
Bank transfers.
Court orders.
Sealed warrants.
Death certificates.
False identities.
And a recording.
Judge Avery's voice.
“We don't need to kill Sullivan.”
Another voice.
“Then what?”
“Break his family.”
Dad listened without blinking.
The judge continued.
“His daughter is perfect leverage.”
My stomach twisted.
Then came a sentence that changed everything.
“Robert Hale was chosen because Frank would never suspect the son of a man he already investigated.”
I looked at Dad.
“You knew his father.”
Dad nodded.
“I knew Leonard.”
“You knew Robert was his son?”
“No.”
“Then who told Voss about me?”
Dad rewound the recording.
The voice answered.
“I did.”
Everyone froze.
It was Diane.
My body went cold.
The woman who had finally confessed.
The woman who had protected me at the warehouse.
The woman who had begged Dad for help.
She had given Voss information about me.
Diane stared at us.
“I didn't know what they planned.”
“You told them about me.”
“I thought they would scare you.”
“You gave them my life.”
“I thought it would keep Robert alive.”
I stood.
Robert looked at his mother.
“Why?”
Diane's eyes filled with tears.
“Because Voss threatened to kill you.”
Robert shook his head.
“You let them hurt Elena to save me?”
“Yes.”
He stepped backward.
“That doesn't make you my mother.”
Diane collapsed into a chair.
Dad didn't comfort her.
He looked at the recording again.
There was one final voice.
The judge.
“Tomorrow night.”
My blood froze.
“What happens tomorrow night?”
Dad answered.
“The hearing.”
“What hearing?”
“The one that was arranged to erase every witness connected to this case.”
Marianne looked at the documents.
“They're planning to declare the entire investigation invalid.”
“Then what?”
“They destroy the evidence.”
Dad stood.
“We won't let them.”
He looked at me.
“We need one final piece.”
“What?”
“The original case file.”
“Where is it?”
Dad was silent.
Then he said:
“In Judge Avery's private vault.”
That was impossible.
Protected by federal security.
Monitored twenty-four hours a day.
Dad smiled for the first time in days.
“Not impossible.”
Robert stared at him.
“How?”
Dad looked at him.
“You know the building.”
Robert swallowed.
“Yes.”
“You know the security system.”
“Yes.”
“Then you are going back.”
Robert stared at my father.
“And if I refuse?”
Dad's voice became very quiet.
“Then your past will be the least of your problems.”
Robert looked at me.
I met his eyes.
He nodded.
“I'll do it.”
At that exact moment, the safe apartment's door opened.
Everyone reached for weapons.
A woman walked inside.
Nora.
She looked terrified.
“They know where you are.”
“How?” Marianne asked.
Nora shook her head.
Then she looked at me.
“Because someone inside this apartment has been sending them your location.”
We all froze.
May you like
She pointed directly behind me.
At Robert.
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