Chapter 9 - Forty-Three NamesThe evidence Robert thought could never be found
The smoke came quickly.
Dad pulled me toward an emergency exit.
“Get outside.”
“What about them?”
“We're coming back.”
“No.”
He stopped.
I pointed toward the warehouse.
“You taught me evidence matters.”
His eyes softened.
“Damn it, Elena.”
“I’m not leaving them.”
Dad looked at Marianne.
“Get the rescue team here.”
She was already on the radio.
I ran with Diane toward the back rooms.
We found two women first.
Then three.
Then six.
They had been living in makeshift rooms behind the warehouse.
Some had been there for months.
Others for years.
One woman recognized Diane.
“You knew.”
Diane closed her eyes.
“Yes.”
The woman slapped her.
Diane didn't defend herself.
“I deserve that.”
Smoke filled the hallway.
We kept moving.
Then I found a locked metal cabinet.
Inside were records.
Forty-three names.
Dates.
Locations.
Payments.
Destinations.
And one column marked CURRENT.
My name was there.
ELENA SULLIVAN HALE.
Status: ACTIVE.
Next to it was a date.
The date was tomorrow.
“What happens tomorrow?” I whispered.
Diane saw the page.
Her face collapsed.
“Robert was supposed to kill you.”
I stared at her.
“What?”
“He was given the order three months ago.”
I couldn't breathe.
“But he didn't.”
“He couldn't.”
“Why?”
Diane looked at me.
“Because somewhere along the way, he became afraid of Voss.”
The sound of coughing came from behind us.
Robert.
He was helping an elderly woman toward the exit.
Our eyes met.
For a second, neither of us moved.
Then he looked down.
“I never wanted to kill you.”
I laughed.
“You beat me for three years.”
“I know.”
“You threatened me.”
“I know.”
“You watched me bleed.”
He said nothing.
“You don't get to tell me you loved me now.”
“I don't.”
The honesty surprised me.
He looked at Diane.
Then at me.
“I hated who I became.”
Smoke filled his lungs.
He coughed.
“I thought if I obeyed long enough, Voss would let us go.”
“Us?”
He looked toward Diane.
“He owned both of us.”
Before I could answer, gunshots erupted outside.
Voss was escaping.
Dad appeared.
“Get everyone out.”
He looked at the records.
“Take those.”
I handed him the folder.
He froze when he saw the list.
Forty-three.
His face hardened.
“This isn't just trafficking.”
“What is it?”
He looked at the names.
“These people were witnesses.”
“To what?”
“The largest corruption operation I ever investigated.”
He pointed to the final page.
At the bottom was a list of officials.
Some were dead.
Others were still in office.
Then I saw one name.
I knew it.
Everyone knew it.
A respected federal judge.
Judge Malcolm Avery.
Dad whispered:
“He's been protecting Voss for thirty years.”
Suddenly every phone in the building began ringing.
One after another.
Dozens.
Then hundreds.
The sound echoed through the warehouse.
Dad answered one.
A voice spoke.
“You found the list.”
Dad said nothing.
The voice continued.
“Good.”
A pause.
“Now you'll understand why your daughter had to die.”
The call ended.
Dad looked at me.
May you like
Because on the list, beside my name, was a handwritten note.
THE JUDGE HAS GIVEN FINAL APPROVAL.
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