Chapter 13 - THE MAN THEY CAME TO ARREST
Police sirens echoed in the distance.
Alexander stared at the news alert.
Vanessa looked toward him.
“That was fast.”
Mercer swore under his breath.
“He had the story prepared.”
Eleanor nodded.
“For years.”
Leah looked toward Edmund.
“You planned to frame Alexander.”
Edmund smiled.
“Of course.”
“Why?”
Alexander answered.
“Because prison destroys me.”
Edmund nodded.
“Public humiliation destroys the company.”
“And scandal destroys my family.”
“Yes.”
Mrs. Bellgrave looked at Edmund through the doorway.
“You always were a coward.”
Edmund’s smile vanished.
“Clara.”
“You wanted what your brother had.”
“He stole what was mine.”
“The company chose him.”
“Our father chose him.”
“Yes.”
“Because he was better.”
Edmund’s face darkened.
Mrs. Bellgrave continued.
“You spent fifty years proving your father right.”
Silence.
Even Vanessa looked impressed.
Sirens grew louder.
Alexander looked toward security.
“Do not resist.”
Leah turned.
“What?”
“If the warrant is valid, resisting gives Edmund exactly what he wants.”
Mercer checked his laptop.
“It’s federal.”
Alexander looked toward him.
“Can you trace the affidavit?”
“Already trying.”
Police vehicles stopped outside.
Federal agents exited.
Edmund stepped backward.
Michael remained frozen.
Alexander looked toward Leah.
“Keep the evidence safe.”
“You’re not being arrested.”
“If the warrant is valid—”
“I don’t care.”
He almost smiled.
“That tends to be your approach.”
Agents approached the gate.
Their leader called out.
“Alexander Bellgrave.”
Alexander stepped forward.
“I’m here.”
Edmund watched with satisfaction.
The lead agent held up identification.
“We have a warrant for your arrest on charges of wire fraud, conspiracy, money laundering, and obstruction.”
Alexander extended his hands.
Leah grabbed his arm.
“No.”
He looked at her.
“It’s temporary.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I know what evidence we have.”
“So does Edmund.”
Alexander glanced toward his uncle.
“Which means he’s afraid.”
The agent moved closer.
Then Mercer suddenly shouted.
“Wait.”
Everyone turned.
He stared at his laptop.
“I found the affidavit.”
Alexander looked toward him.
“And?”
Mercer’s face changed.
“The confidential source is Michael Reeves.”
Everyone looked at Michael.
He went pale.
Alexander’s expression hardened.
“You signed the affidavit.”
Michael whispered.
“I had to.”
“You accused me of authorizing the transfers.”
“Yes.”
“You said I ordered the destruction of audit records.”
“Yes.”
“And you knew it was false.”
Michael closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
The lead agent looked confused.
“What is happening?”
Leah stepped forward.
“Your confidential source is standing next to the man who actually organized the scheme.”
Edmund laughed.
“An accusation.”
Mercer raised the laptop.
“With bank records.”
Eleanor added,
“Recorded communications.”
Vanessa said,
“Blackmail evidence.”
Vale stepped forward.
“And testimony.”
Mrs. Bellgrave smiled.
“And an eighty-one-year-old woman who is in a very bad mood.”
The agent looked between them.
Edmund’s confidence finally slipped.
He turned toward Michael.
“Say nothing.”
Michael stared at him.
Edmund’s voice sharpened.
“Michael.”
Michael looked toward Alexander.
Fourteen years.
A funeral.
A child being born.
A mother kidnapped.
A father left to die.
Michael started crying.
“I’m done.”
Edmund’s face changed.
“Don’t.”
Michael looked at the federal agent.
“I lied in the affidavit.”
Edmund shouted.
“Michael!”
“I falsified Alexander’s approvals.”
Edmund stepped toward him.
Security blocked him.
Michael continued.
“Edmund Bellgrave directed the network.”
“He ordered Thomas Morgan moved after the crash.”
“He ordered threats against Eleanor Morgan.”
“He ordered the charity accounts opened.”
Edmund lunged.
“Shut your mouth!”
Agents restrained him.
He fought.
For the first time, the calm disappeared.
“You idiot!”
Michael stared at him.
“You said my family would be safe.”
“They would have been if you obeyed!”
Vale laughed bitterly.
“Ask me how that works.”
The lead federal agent looked toward Alexander.
“Mr. Bellgrave.”
Alexander held his gaze.
“Yes?”
“You are still under arrest.”
Leah stared.
“What?”
The agent continued.
“Michael’s statement changes things.”
“But the warrant remains active until a judge reviews the evidence.”
Alexander nodded.
“I understand.”
Leah stepped closer.
Alexander looked at her.
“Don’t.”
“What?”
“Don’t make that face.”
“What face?”
“The one where you decide to fight twelve federal agents.”
Vanessa whispered.
“I would actually enjoy seeing that.”
Alexander ignored her.
He looked at Leah.
“I’ll be fine.”
She lowered her voice.
“You don’t know that.”
“No.”
He looked at Edmund being restrained.
“But for the first time tonight, neither does he.”
Agents handcuffed Alexander.
Mrs. Bellgrave watched silently.
Then Edmund began laughing.
Everyone turned.
He looked directly at Leah.
“You still don’t understand.”
Leah’s jaw tightened.
“Understand what?”
Edmund smiled.
“Thomas didn’t hide the most important file in that bank.”
Leah froze.
“He hid it with you.”
She stared at him.
“What?”
Edmund’s eyes moved toward the necklace around Leah’s neck.
A small brass pendant.
She had worn it since childhood.
Her father gave it to her on her twelfth birthday.
Edmund smiled.
“Open it.”
Leah touched the pendant.
Her hands suddenly felt cold.
Alexander looked toward her.
“Leah.”
She pulled the pendant free.
There was a seam she had never noticed.
She twisted it.
The pendant opened.
Inside was a tiny memory chip.
Eleanor gasped.
Leah stared.
Edmund laughed again.
“That file contains the one thing that can destroy more than me.”
Leah looked at him.
“What?”
Edmund’s smile disappeared.
“Every politician.”
“Every judge.”
“Every bank.”
“Every name.”
“And once they learn you have it…”
May you like
He leaned closer as agents restrained him.
“…you won’t survive the day.”
