Chapter 13 - The Man Behind Richard SterlingSubtitle: The Real Enemy Was Still FreeDaniel wanted to meet alone.
I refused.
We met in a police-controlled warehouse.
When he walked inside, he looked like a different man.
Bruised.
Exhausted.
Terrified.
"I know who ordered it," he said.
"Your father's murder of the investigator?"
"No."
"My father's death."
I stared at him.
"Who?"
Daniel handed Mike a file.
Inside was a photograph.
An older man.
Gray hair.
Dark suit.
A name beneath it.
Senator Jonathan Hale.
I recognized him.
He had appeared beside Richard in photographs for years.
A respected political figure.
Chairman of several committees.
And one of the men who had publicly praised my father after his death.
I looked at Daniel.
"How?"
"Richard told me everything last night."
"Why?"
"Because he thought he was going to die."
"What did he say?"
Daniel sat down.
"Your father discovered that Sterling Holdings wasn't acting alone."
"With whom?"
"The Hale Foundation."
"Money laundering?"
Daniel nodded.
"The foundation moved billions through shell organizations."
Victoria scanned the papers.
"This goes far beyond a family company."
"Yes."
Mike looked at me.
"This could be federal."
I nodded.
"Then let's make it federal."
Within hours, federal investigators were involved.
We secured the remaining records.
Bank accounts were frozen.
Corporate offices were searched.
Richard Sterling was transferred to federal custody.
Karen was questioned.
Patricia entered witness protection.
Dr. Keller surrendered his phone.
The pieces were falling into place.
But there was still one missing piece.
Jonathan Hale.
He hadn't run.
He didn't have to.
People like him survived because everyone else was afraid to touch them.
Then he called me.
"Judge Vance."
I answered.
"Senator."
"You've been asking questions."
"I've learned a great deal."
"You don't understand the danger."
"I understand it perfectly."
He laughed softly.
"You're very much like your father."
"What happened to him?"
Silence.
Then:
"He refused to cooperate."
"Did you kill him?"
Another pause.
"I didn't have to."
My fingers tightened around the phone.
"What does that mean?"
"People make choices."
"You threatened him."
"He made his choice."
I felt cold.
Then he said:
"You should make yours."
"What do you want?"
"Your children."
My blood froze.
"You won't touch them."
"I don't want both."
He paused.
"Just Luna."
I stared through the glass at my sleeping daughter.
"Why?"
"Because she is the rightful heir."
I understood.
Luna.
The original trust.
The controlling shares.
The entire Sterling fortune.
She wasn't just a baby.
To them, she was the key to an empire.
Jonathan continued:
"Bring her to me."
"No."
"Then Daniel dies."
I looked at my husband.
He was standing across the room.
He couldn't hear the conversation.
I closed my eyes.
Then I remembered my father's letter.
Truth is your inheritance.
I opened my eyes.
"Senator?"
"Yes?"
"You made one mistake."
"What?"
"You called me a judge."
He laughed.
"I know exactly who you are."
I smiled.
"You don't."
I ended the call.
May you like
Then turned to Mike.
"Set the trap."
