Chapter 16 - Grace Sets the Trap
Daniel’s final recording was only four minutes long.
Grace and Adrian watched it together.
Daniel appeared tired.
He smiled once.
“If this reached both of you, then something went very wrong or very right.”
Grace laughed softly.
Adrian did not.
Daniel continued.
“Adrian, stop making that face.”
Grace looked at Adrian.
He was, in fact, making a face.
A wounded smile appeared.
Daniel spoke about Vincent.
Marcus.
The freight network.
Then something unexpected.
“There’s a second archive.”
Adrian leaned forward.
“The first proves the crimes. The second proves who knew what and when.”
Grace’s heart accelerated.
Daniel gave no address.
Only a clue.
“Grace will understand.”
She stared.
“Why me?”
The recording continued.
“The place where stories wait for someone to take them home.”
Grace whispered, “The bookstore.”
Adrian stood.
They arrived at Marlowe Books after closing.
Mr. Kaplan met them.
When Grace explained, he looked confused.
“Daniel never left anything else.”
“Maybe you didn’t know.”
They searched.
Shelves.
Office.
Storage.
Nothing.
Then Grace stopped beneath the used-book section.
The place where stories waited for someone to take them home.
Not new books.
Used books.
She looked at the donation bins.
Six years of donations.
Mr. Kaplan frowned.
“These get processed every week.”
“Except?”
He thought.
“Rare editions. Those go downstairs.”
Basement.
They searched boxes.
Dust.
Old receipts.
Then Grace found a copy of Great Expectations.
Inside the cover:
GH.
Her initials.
She opened it.
A key card fell out.
Lena traced the card to a bank safe-deposit facility.
The box contained copies of emails.
Recorded calls.
Contracts.
And one document that changed everything.
Marcus had contacted Daniel the week before Daniel died.
Not to threaten him.
To offer a deal.
Marcus wanted to betray Vincent.
Daniel refused because Marcus demanded immunity and control of several shell accounts.
Then an email from Daniel to Adrian:
I think Marcus plans to remove Vincent whether we help him or not. If anything happens to me, look at the Lake Shore route.
The evidence did not show exactly how Daniel died.
But it proved Marcus lied about barely knowing him.
More importantly, it proved Marcus had motive.
Rebecca brought the archive to federal prosecutors.
Marcus learned about it within hours.
Even from custody, information leaked.
He requested to speak with Grace.
She declined.
Then he offered cooperation.
Against Adrian.
Grace laughed when Rebecca told her.
“Of course.”
“He claims Adrian ordered Daniel killed.”
“Can he prove it?”
“No.”
“But he’ll try.”
“Yes.”
Grace understood Marcus’s final strategy.
If he could not control her, he would contaminate everything around her.
She surprised everyone.
“I’ll meet him.”
Adrian immediately objected.
“No.”
Grace looked at him.
He closed his mouth.
Progress.
Rebecca arranged a monitored meeting at the federal detention facility.
Grace sat behind glass.
Marcus entered wearing a plain uniform.
For the first time in her life, he looked smaller than memory.
He picked up the phone.
“So.”
Grace said nothing.
“You finally got what you wanted.”
“What did I want?”
“Me powerless.”
Grace considered.
“No.”
“That’s why you’re here.”
“I’m here because I wanted to see something.”
“What?”
“Whether you still scare me.”
Marcus leaned closer.
“And?”
Grace smiled.
“No.”
His face changed.
“You think Vale is different?”
“Yes.”
“Because he says please?”
“Partly.”
Marcus laughed.
“He’s manipulating you.”
“Maybe.”
That surprised him.
Grace continued.
“The difference is I’m allowed to question Adrian.”
“You were allowed to question me.”
“No. I was punished for it.”
“I never—”
“Don’t.”
Marcus stopped.
Grace’s voice stayed calm.
“This conversation isn’t about rewriting our marriage.”
“Then why are you here?”
“To give you one chance.”
His eyes sharpened.
“For what?”
“Tell the truth about Daniel.”
Marcus smiled.
“Immunity?”
“No.”
“Reduced sentence?”
“Not my decision.”
“Then what do I get?”
“Nothing.”
He laughed.
“You still don’t understand how the world works.”
“No, Marcus.”
Grace looked at him through the glass.
“You don’t understand how truth works when nobody is buying it from you.”
She stood.
Marcus panicked.
“Wait.”
Grace paused.
He lowered his voice.
“Daniel wasn’t supposed to die.”
She slowly sat again.
The recorder captured everything.
“What happened?”
Marcus looked toward the guard.
Then back.
“Vincent wanted him frightened.”
“And you?”
“I changed the plan.”
“How?”
“I made sure Daniel thought someone was following him.”
Grace’s stomach twisted.
No operational details.
Only fear.
“You chased him?”
“I wasn’t driving.”
“Who was?”
Marcus hesitated.
“Samuel.”
Grace’s eyes closed.
Samuel.
Adrian’s trusted man.
Marcus continued.
“Daniel panicked. Lost control.”
“You caused the accident.”
“I didn’t touch his car.”
“You caused it.”
Marcus slammed his palm against the glass.
“Vincent told me to solve the problem!”
Grace did not flinch.
There.
Again.
A confession.
Clearer.
Marcus realized.
His face went blank.
Grace picked up the phone one final time.
“Thank you.”
She hung up.
As guards removed him, Marcus shouted her name.
Grace did not look back.
Outside, Adrian waited beside Rebecca.
Not inside.
He had respected Grace’s decision.
She walked toward him.
“It’s done.”
Adrian’s face told her he understood.
Grace took his hand.
For the first time, neither of them was chasing Marcus.
Marcus was behind them.
May you like
Exactly where he belonged.
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