Chapter 9 - The Fall
The investigation moved faster than any of us expected.
Federal investigators seized records from Martin's office.
Victor's accounts were frozen.
Northstar Consulting disappeared from its registered address.
Lauren was questioned for six hours.
She eventually told them everything.
Not because she suddenly became brave.
Because she realized Victor had never intended to protect her.
He had been using her.
And when investigators showed her the evidence, she finally understood.
She had been a tool.
Not a partner.
Three days later, Jared and I sat in a federal conference room.
An investigator named Rebecca Collins placed a folder on the table.
"We've traced more than four million dollars."
Jared stared.
"Four million?"
"Your father's trust. Your mother's settlement. Your company's emergency financing. Several insurance payments."
I felt numb.
"How many victims?"
"At least fourteen."
"How long?"
"Approximately eleven years."
Eleven years.
That meant Diane had been involved in the beginning.
I looked down.
"What happened to my wife?"
Rebecca hesitated.
"We're still investigating."
I nodded.
"I want the truth."
"So do we."
She handed me another document.
"There's one thing you should know."
"What?"
"Your wife's settlement money was recovered."
I looked up.
"All of it?"
"Most."
Jared's eyes widened.
"How much?"
"Approximately $1.05 million."
My breath caught.
"And the rest?"
"Under investigation."
For the first time in years, I felt something I hadn't allowed myself to feel.
Hope.
But there was one more question.
"What happens to Lauren?"
Rebecca looked at me.
"That's complicated."
"I know."
"She cooperated."
"But she stole."
"Yes."
"She forged documents."
"Yes."
"She lied to Jared."
"Yes."
I nodded.
"Then she should face the consequences."
Jared looked at me.
I knew what he was thinking.
She was still his wife.
That was his burden.
Mine was different.
I had already lost ten years.
I wasn't going to lose the truth too.
Weeks passed.
The investigation became national news.
Martin Hale was arrested.
Victor Sloan was arrested.
Several shell companies were dissolved.
Lauren entered a cooperation agreement.
Jared's company survived.
And then something unexpected happened.
Jared sold his mansion.
I asked why.
He smiled.
"Because I don't need a house that big."
"What are you doing with the money?"
"Buying something else."
He drove me to a building on the north side.
It was a renovated brick apartment building.
Warm.
Quiet.
Modern.
Accessible.
"What is this?"
"Yours."
I shook my head.
"Jared."
"You've spent three years freezing."
"I don't need this."
"I do."
"What do you mean?"
"I need to know my father is safe."
I looked at him.
"I was safe."
"No."
His eyes filled with tears.
"You were surviving."
That sentence broke something inside me.
He hugged me.
For a long time, neither of us spoke.
Then he handed me a key.
I looked at it.
"What's upstairs?"
"My apartment."
I laughed.
"You bought the building?"
"Yes."
"Of course you did."
He smiled.
"But there's something else."
"What?"
He handed me an envelope.
Inside was a bank statement.
A new trust.
In my name.
Fully funded.
No Lauren.
No attorney.
No third-party trustee.
Just me.
I looked at my son.
"Jared."
"I want you to control your own life."
I nodded.
Then my phone rang.
Rebecca Collins.
I answered.
Her voice was serious.
"Mr. Blake."
"Yes?"
"We found something in Diane's medical records."
My heart stopped.
"What?"
"A note."
"What kind of note?"
"Written by your wife."
I sat down.
"What did it say?"
Rebecca paused.
May you like
Then:
"She believed someone was trying to kill her."
