Chapter 4 - The Friend Who Knew Too Much
Julian did not go alone.
Raymond had asked him to.
That was exactly why Detective Torres followed.
Raymond Hale’s office occupied the courthouse’s administrative floor, far from public courtrooms.
When Julian entered, Raymond was standing at the window.
“You brought police.”
“You expected otherwise?”
Raymond sighed.
“I expected my friend.”
“My friend apparently knew my daughter’s former husband before I did.”
Raymond turned.
“Derek was a donor to several legal foundations.”
“That isn’t an answer.”
Julian placed the photograph on his desk.
Raymond looked at it.
“Where did you get this?”
“Answer me.”
Raymond sat down.
“Derek approached me two years ago.”
“Why?”
“He wanted advice.”
“About Clara?”
“Yes.”
“You helped him convince me she was unstable.”
“No.”
Julian slammed the police report onto the desk.
“You knew she was afraid of him.”
Raymond’s face tightened.
“I knew their marriage was ugly.”
“And you said nothing.”
“It wasn’t my marriage.”
“It was my daughter!”
Raymond stood.
“And you were impossible to talk to!”
The room went silent.
Raymond lowered his voice.
“You worshipped Derek because he looked like the son you never had. Successful. Polished. Connected. Clara tried telling you he controlled every dollar she spent. You called it marital disagreement.”
Julian absorbed the accusation.
Because part of it was true.
“Why were you helping him?”
“I wasn’t.”
“Then explain the medical records.”
Raymond hesitated.
That hesitation was enough.
Torres stepped forward.
“Mr. Hale, you should consider counsel.”
Raymond laughed bitterly.
“You think Marcus built this?”
“No,” Julian said. “I think Marcus was convenient.”
Raymond looked at him.
Then his shoulders dropped.
“There’s a network.”
Torres immediately activated her recorder.
“Explain.”
“Attorneys pay for information. Clerks sell docket timing. Private investigators buy addresses. Custody lawyers buy medical information.”
“How long?”
“I don’t know.”
“Raymond.”
“Years.”
Julian felt nauseated.
“Who runs it?”
Raymond looked toward the door.
“I don’t know his real name.”
“Then what do you know?”
“They call him Shepherd.”
Torres exchanged a look with Julian.
“Why?”
“Because he says he moves families where they belong.”
Julian’s expression hardened.
“Derek works for him?”
“No. Derek bought from him.”
“Marcus?”
“Small-time supplier.”
“And you?”
Raymond looked away.
Julian understood.
“You protected them.”
“I protected the courthouse.”
“You protected criminals.”
“I prevented scandal.”
“By burying complaints.”
Raymond’s eyes filled with shame.
“Yes.”
Julian stepped back.
The man he had trusted for decades had not forged his signature.
But he had made the corruption possible by refusing to expose it.
“Who is Shepherd?”
Raymond opened his mouth.
Then the fire alarm erupted.
Torres grabbed Julian.
“Move.”
Smoke began spilling beneath the office door.
They entered the hallway.
Employees rushed toward stairwells.
Then Raymond stopped.
“My computer.”
“Leave it!”
“It has the payment list!”
He turned back.
Torres shouted.
“Raymond!”
But he disappeared through the smoke.
Seconds later, a crash sounded from inside the office.
Julian moved toward the door.
Torres restrained him.
Fire crews arrived.
The fire was contained quickly.
Raymond survived, coughing and shaken.
But his computer was destroyed.
Investigators discovered something worse.
The fire had not started accidentally.
Someone had placed an incendiary device beneath Raymond’s desk.
Someone knew he was talking.
Hours later, Torres received security footage.
A figure had entered the administrative floor carrying a maintenance bag.
Face hidden.
Badge cloned.
Julian watched the recording.
Then froze.
The person walked with a slight limp.
He had seen that gait before.
At Clara’s hospital.
Outside Room 814.
One of the men standing beside Derek’s attorney.
Julian pointed at the screen.
“That man.”
Torres zoomed in.
“You know him?”
“No.”
“But you’ve seen him?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“Yesterday.”
May you like
Julian’s blood ran cold.
“He was watching my daughter.”
