{"id":16751,"date":"2026-09-22T15:25:34","date_gmt":"2026-09-22T15:25:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/?p=16751"},"modified":"2026-09-22T15:25:34","modified_gmt":"2026-09-22T15:25:34","slug":"part-21-victor-demanded-the-original-codicil-for-margarets-stolen-files-but-his-meeting-place-revealed-he-was-protecting-more-than-daniel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/?p=16751","title":{"rendered":"PART 21 \u2013 Victor Demanded the Original Codicil for Margaret\u2019s Stolen Files, but His Meeting Place Revealed He Was Protecting More Than Daniel"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Nobody in the conference room spoke for several seconds after Victor Hale&#39;s final message appeared.<\/p>\n<p>If you want them, bring the original codicil.<\/p>\n<p>David took my phone from me carefully, as though the device itself might be dangerous.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;No one answers yet.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Samuel stared at the photograph Victor had sent.<\/p>\n<p>It showed Matthew and me from outside the conference-room window, taken that morning.<\/p>\n<p>Close enough to prove Victor had been nearby.<\/p>\n<p>Close enough to make my skin crawl.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;He knows where we are,&quot; I said.<\/p>\n<p>Deputy Alvarez was already moving toward the window.<\/p>\n<p>She pulled one blind aside with two fingers and scanned the street.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Not anymore, probably.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;How do you know?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;I don&#39;t.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>At least she didn&#39;t pretend.<\/p>\n<p>Mark crossed the room and looked at the photograph over David&#39;s shoulder.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;What copies is he talking about?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Margaret&#39;s,&quot; I said.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;The files she stole from Daniel?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Apparently.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Thomas looked toward Samuel.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;If Victor has those, he may have more evidence than Claire.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Samuel&#39;s expression hardened.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Or he&#39;s bluffing.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>David nodded.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;We assume nothing.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>My phone buzzed again.<\/p>\n<p>Victor had sent an address.<\/p>\n<p>No name.<\/p>\n<p>Just coordinates.<\/p>\n<p>Alvarez entered them into her phone.<\/p>\n<p>Her face tightened.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Abandoned rail depot south of the industrial district.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Sarah gave a short, incredulous laugh.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Naturally.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>David looked at her.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;What?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Nothing. It just sounds exactly like the sort of place men choose when they want to pretend their problems are more cinematic than criminal.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Despite everything, I almost smiled.<\/p>\n<p>The moment passed quickly.<\/p>\n<p>Samuel moved toward the trust case.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;I&#39;ll take him the codicil.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;No,&quot; Thomas said.<\/p>\n<p>Samuel turned.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;He wants me.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;He wants the document.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Same difference.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;No.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Thomas&#39;s voice sharpened.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;That document is now subject to a preservation order.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Samuel stopped.<\/p>\n<p>David nodded.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;If you hand it to Victor, you risk violating the court&#39;s order.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Samuel looked furious.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Then give him a copy.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;He&#39;ll know.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;How?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Thomas answered.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Original paper, seal, signatures, archival notation.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Samuel dragged a hand through his hair.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;So we do nothing?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Alvarez said, &quot;We do exactly what he wants us to do enough for him to believe he controls the meeting.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>I looked at her.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;What does that mean?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;We prepare a decoy package.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>David frowned.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;A fake legal instrument?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;A package. Not a forged document.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>She looked at Thomas.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Can you make something visually convincing from a distance?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Thomas considered it.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Yes.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Good.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Samuel shook his head.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;He&#39;ll ask to inspect it.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Then you don&#39;t let him until the terms are met.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;What terms?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Proof the files exist.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Samuel looked toward me.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;What if he has them?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Then we recover them.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;And if he has a weapon?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Alvarez&#39;s expression remained flat.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Then that&#39;s why you are not doing this alone.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>I immediately said, &quot;I&#39;m coming.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Every person in the room looked at me.<\/p>\n<p>David answered first.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;No.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Victor photographed me. He contacted me. If I don&#39;t appear, he&#39;ll know we&#39;re staging something.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;That doesn&#39;t make bringing you a good idea.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;He wants leverage over me.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Exactly why you don&#39;t go.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>I stared at Alvarez.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;What would make the meeting believable?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>She hesitated.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Victor probably expects Samuel.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;And me.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Possibly.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Then I go.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Sarah stepped forward.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Emily.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;No.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>My voice sounded calmer than I felt.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;I am not taking Matthew.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Obviously.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;I will stay wherever Alvarez tells me to stay.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>David crossed his arms.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;This is not about courage.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;I know.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;It&#39;s about risk.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;I know.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Samuel looked at me.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;I won&#39;t let him near you.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>I almost laughed.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;You don&#39;t control him.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>That silenced him.<\/p>\n<p>Alvarez finally spoke.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;If you go, you remain in a secured vehicle outside the immediate exchange area.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>David still looked unhappy.<\/p>\n<p>I nodded.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Fine.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Mark stepped forward.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Then I&#39;m going too.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;No,&quot; Sarah said.<\/p>\n<p>He looked at her.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Why?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Because if Victor has been watching all of us, seeing every Vale in one place makes the setup obvious.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Mark frowned.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;And you&#39;re staying?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Yes.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Something passed between them.<\/p>\n<p>Not reconciliation.<\/p>\n<p>Coordination.<\/p>\n<p>That was different.<\/p>\n<p>Thomas spent the next forty minutes preparing a visual decoy.<\/p>\n<p>He used a blank archival folder, copied the external labeling from the real codicil package, and inserted ordinary trust photocopies inside.<\/p>\n<p>Nothing falsely represented itself as the original if opened.<\/p>\n<p>From across a room, though, it looked close enough.<\/p>\n<p>Alvarez coordinated with local officers and federal contacts because the case had expanded across jurisdictions.<\/p>\n<p>She refused to tell us how many officers would be nearby.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Victor may be watching the approach.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Samuel nodded.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;He will.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;How well do you know him?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;I met him once.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;At your house.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Yes.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;What did he want?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;The codicil.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Did he threaten you directly?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;No.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;What did he do?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Samuel thought.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;He looked around my house while talking.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;At what?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Doors. Windows. Photos.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Alvarez nodded.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Assessment behavior.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>David frowned.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Meaning?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Meaning he was figuring out what mattered and how easy the property would be to enter.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>My stomach tightened.<\/p>\n<p>I remembered Victor&#39;s photograph from outside the conference room.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;He does that everywhere.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Likely.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>At dusk, we left in separate vehicles.<\/p>\n<p>Matthew stayed with Sarah and Mark at a secure location arranged through the local attorney.<\/p>\n<p>I hated leaving him.<\/p>\n<p>Even for an hour.<\/p>\n<p>Even with people I now trusted more than before.<\/p>\n<p>I kissed his forehead twice.<\/p>\n<p>Then once more because two did not feel enough.<\/p>\n<p>Mark stood nearby.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;If anything happens\u2014&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Nothing happens to him.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>His voice was steady.<\/p>\n<p>I looked at him.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;That is the first promise from you I need to believe.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>He absorbed that.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;I know.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Sarah put one hand on my shoulder.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Go.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>The rail depot sat beyond a chain-link fence where tracks divided into rusted lines swallowed by weeds.<\/p>\n<p>The main building had broken windows and a collapsed loading awning.<\/p>\n<p>Victor had chosen well.<\/p>\n<p>Open sight lines.<\/p>\n<p>Multiple exits.<\/p>\n<p>No ordinary foot traffic.<\/p>\n<p>Our vehicle stopped behind an abandoned maintenance shed.<\/p>\n<p>Alvarez gave me an earpiece.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;You remain here unless I tell you otherwise.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Understood.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Even if Samuel is threatened.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>I looked at her.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Understood.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>She held my gaze for another second.<\/p>\n<p>Then left.<\/p>\n<p>Samuel walked alone toward the depot carrying the decoy case.<\/p>\n<p>He looked older under the harsh security lights from the adjacent industrial yard.<\/p>\n<p>Smaller.<\/p>\n<p>But not afraid.<\/p>\n<p>Or at least not visibly.<\/p>\n<p>For nearly five minutes, nothing happened.<\/p>\n<p>Then a figure stepped from behind a freight container.<\/p>\n<p>Victor.<\/p>\n<p>I recognized him from a photograph Alvarez had shown us.<\/p>\n<p>Tall.<\/p>\n<p>Gray jacket.<\/p>\n<p>Cap pulled low.<\/p>\n<p>His hands were visible.<\/p>\n<p>That did not reassure me.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;You brought it.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Samuel stopped twenty feet away.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;You brought the files?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Victor smiled.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Some.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Proof.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Victor removed a flash drive from his pocket.<\/p>\n<p>Samuel did not move.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;That could contain recipes.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Victor shrugged.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Margaret recorded Claire discussing the restaurant.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>My pulse jumped.<\/p>\n<p>Samuel&#39;s face gave nothing away.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Claire already confessed.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Not all of it.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;What did she leave out?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Victor&#39;s smile faded.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Gregory paid her.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>I froze.<\/p>\n<p>That had not appeared in any statement.<\/p>\n<p>Samuel said, &quot;For what?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;To keep Daniel loyal.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;How?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Claire was reporting Daniel&#39;s private conversations to Gregory for years.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>That changed the architecture again.<\/p>\n<p>Claire had loved Daniel.<\/p>\n<p>Advised him.<\/p>\n<p>Helped him.<\/p>\n<p>And possibly reported him.<\/p>\n<p>Samuel&#39;s voice hardened.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;You&#39;re lying.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Victor pulled out his phone.<\/p>\n<p>He played a short audio clip.<\/p>\n<p>Claire&#39;s voice.<\/p>\n<p>Daniel still thinks the transfer is guaranteed. If you want him obedient, don&#39;t let him see the full trust schedule.<\/p>\n<p>Then Gregory.<\/p>\n<p>Keep him focused. Your compensation will be handled.<\/p>\n<p>The recording stopped.<\/p>\n<p>I felt sick.<\/p>\n<p>Every relationship inside the Vale system seemed to contain another hidden transaction.<\/p>\n<p>Samuel held up the case.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Full files first.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Victor shook his head.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Original first.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;No.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Victor stared at him.<\/p>\n<p>Then looked past Samuel.<\/p>\n<p>Toward the maintenance shed.<\/p>\n<p>Toward me.<\/p>\n<p>My skin went cold.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Emily can come out.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Samuel did not turn.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;She&#39;s not here.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Victor smiled.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;She&#39;s always close to the baby, but she isn&#39;t with the baby tonight.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>My breath stopped.<\/p>\n<p>How did he know?<\/p>\n<p>Alvarez&#39;s voice came through my earpiece.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Stay inside.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Victor continued.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;She came.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Samuel remained still.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;I said she didn&#39;t.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;You were a terrible liar as a young man too.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Samuel&#39;s expression changed.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;You knew me before my house.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Victor laughed softly.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Now we&#39;re getting somewhere.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Samuel lowered the case slightly.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Where?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Vale Holdings.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Thomas had said Victor appeared in old company expense records.<\/p>\n<p>I leaned closer to the windshield.<\/p>\n<p>Samuel asked, &quot;When?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Eighties.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Samuel stared.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;You worked for Charles.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Briefly.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Doing what?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Victor smiled.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Things Charles didn&#39;t put in minutes.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>A chill moved through me.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;What things?&quot; Samuel asked.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Finding people.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Margaret.<\/p>\n<p>Samuel.<\/p>\n<p>Maybe others.<\/p>\n<p>Samuel&#39;s voice changed.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;You found Margaret for him.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Victor&#39;s smile disappeared.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;I found lots of people.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Did you help him take Rebecca?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Silence.<\/p>\n<p>That was answer enough.<\/p>\n<p>Samuel stepped forward.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Did you?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Victor&#39;s jaw tightened.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;I drove papers between lawyers.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;You knew what they were doing.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;I was twenty-three.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Samuel laughed without humor.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Everyone was young when they did the worst thing of their life.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Victor looked away.<\/p>\n<p>For the first time, he did not seem entirely in control.<\/p>\n<p>Samuel recognized it too.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Why do you want the codicil?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Victor&#39;s eyes returned to him.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Insurance.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Against whom?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;All of them.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Gregory?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Gregory. Daniel. Claire. Helen.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Why?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Victor&#39;s expression hardened.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Because once the truth comes out, everyone is going to decide the hired man did the dirty work.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Samuel said nothing.<\/p>\n<p>Victor continued.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Charles paid me to find Margaret. Gregory paid me years later to find you. Daniel paid me to pressure you.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;And Claire?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Claire paid me to find Margaret again.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>He laughed bitterly.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Same family. Same errands.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;So the files prove who hired you.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Some.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;And the codicil?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Proves why.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Samuel stared at him.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;You want leverage against prosecution.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;I want context.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;That&#39;s what guilty men call leverage when they want sympathy.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Victor&#39;s face tightened.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Careful.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Alvarez&#39;s voice came through my ear.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Hold.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Samuel lifted the case.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;You want this?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Victor&#39;s attention fixed on it.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Yes.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Then put the drive on the ground.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;No.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Then we&#39;re done.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Samuel turned.<\/p>\n<p>Victor&#39;s hand moved toward his jacket.<\/p>\n<p>My entire body locked.<\/p>\n<p>Alvarez&#39;s voice remained controlled.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Stay.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Samuel stopped walking but did not turn.<\/p>\n<p>Victor pulled something out.<\/p>\n<p>Not a gun.<\/p>\n<p>A phone.<\/p>\n<p>He held it up.<\/p>\n<p>A live video appeared on the screen.<\/p>\n<p>My mother&#39;s house.<\/p>\n<p>My blood froze.<\/p>\n<p>A camera angle from across the street.<\/p>\n<p>Samuel turned.<\/p>\n<p>Victor said, &quot;I have backups.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>I grabbed the door handle.<\/p>\n<p>Alvarez said sharply in my ear, &quot;Do not move.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Victor continued.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;If I disappear, people get nervous.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Who?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;People who don&#39;t care about your trust.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Samuel looked toward the phone.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;What do they care about?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Money.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;What money?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Victor smiled.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Daniel wasn&#39;t the only person who stole from Vale Holdings.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>That changed everything.<\/p>\n<p>Samuel glanced at the case.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Who else?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Victor looked directly toward my hiding place again.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Gregory.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Silence.<\/p>\n<p>Samuel said, &quot;We already know Gregory manipulated the trust.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Not trust money.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;What money?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Company pension funds.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Thomas had never mentioned that.<\/p>\n<p>Neither had Helen.<\/p>\n<p>Victor continued.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Charles discovered it shortly before he died.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Gregory stole pension money?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Moved it through shell accounts. Covered losses. Put most back.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Most?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Not all.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Samuel stared.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;What does that have to do with Matthew?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Victor laughed.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Nothing.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>That was the first answer that truly surprised me.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Then why are you threatening Emily?&quot; Samuel asked.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Because she has everybody&#39;s attention.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>He pointed toward the decoy case.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;That document opens Charles&#39;s archive. Charles&#39;s archive contains more than family secrets.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Samuel understood.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;The ledgers.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Victor nodded.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Real ledgers.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Not the copies in your files.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;No.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;What do they show?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Payments. Shell companies. Names.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Samuel looked toward him.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;And you think the codicil gives you access?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;No.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;It gives me bargaining power with the person who can.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Gregory.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Victor shook his head.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Thomas.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>My stomach dropped.<\/p>\n<p>Thomas was archival trustee.<\/p>\n<p>Victor did not want the codicil for itself.<\/p>\n<p>He wanted something Thomas would trade to protect it.<\/p>\n<p>Samuel said quietly, &quot;Thomas won&#39;t bargain.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Victor smiled.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Everyone bargains when the price becomes personal.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Alvarez&#39;s voice came through.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Teams moving.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Victor suddenly looked toward the far fence.<\/p>\n<p>His posture changed.<\/p>\n<p>He knew.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Police.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Samuel did not deny it.<\/p>\n<p>Victor grabbed the flash drive and stepped backward.<\/p>\n<p>Then the depot lights died.<\/p>\n<p>Darkness swallowed everything.<\/p>\n<p>I heard Alvarez in my ear.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Stay down.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>I dropped beneath the dashboard.<\/p>\n<p>Shouts erupted outside.<\/p>\n<p>Footsteps.<\/p>\n<p>Metal clanged.<\/p>\n<p>A car engine roared somewhere beyond the depot.<\/p>\n<p>Then gunfire cracked once.<\/p>\n<p>Only once.<\/p>\n<p>My heart stopped.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Samuel?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>No answer.<\/p>\n<p>I forgot the instruction.<\/p>\n<p>I opened the car door.<\/p>\n<p>Alvarez shouted in my earpiece.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Emily, stay\u2014&quot;<\/p>\n<p>I ran.<\/p>\n<p>Officers moved between containers.<\/p>\n<p>Flashlights cut through darkness.<\/p>\n<p>Someone yelled that Victor was heading east.<\/p>\n<p>Then I saw Samuel on the ground.<\/p>\n<p>I dropped beside him.<\/p>\n<p>Blood darkened his sleeve.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Where are you hit?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>He looked annoyed.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Arm.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Relief nearly collapsed me.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;You&#39;re okay?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;I&#39;ve had better meetings.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>An officer pressed gauze to his upper arm.<\/p>\n<p>The bullet had grazed him.<\/p>\n<p>Victor had fired toward the ground while escaping, apparently trying to create chaos rather than hit Samuel directly.<\/p>\n<p>Still, he had fired.<\/p>\n<p>Still, he had escaped.<\/p>\n<p>Alvarez came toward us, furious.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;I told you to stay in the vehicle.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;I know.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Do not ever\u2014&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;I know.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>She stopped.<\/p>\n<p>Then exhaled.<\/p>\n<p>Samuel looked toward the case.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;It&#39;s gone.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>My stomach dropped.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;What?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>The decoy package had disappeared during the blackout.<\/p>\n<p>Victor had taken it.<\/p>\n<p>Thomas&#39;s fake outer packet.<\/p>\n<p>Not the original.<\/p>\n<p>Samuel laughed weakly.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;He thinks he has it.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Alvarez looked toward the darkness where Victor fled.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;For now.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>My phone buzzed.<\/p>\n<p>Everyone froze.<\/p>\n<p>Victor.<\/p>\n<p>A photograph of the opened case.<\/p>\n<p>The photocopies inside.<\/p>\n<p>Then one sentence.<\/p>\n<p>You lied.<\/p>\n<p>Another followed.<\/p>\n<p>Now I stop negotiating.<\/p>\n<p>My mouth went dry.<\/p>\n<p>Then a third message arrived.<\/p>\n<p>Ask Thomas what happened to his daughter in 1997.<\/p>\n<p>Samuel went completely still.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;What?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>I looked at him.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;You know?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;No.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>But his face said otherwise.<\/p>\n<p>Alvarez helped him stand.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Who is Thomas&#39;s daughter?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Samuel&#39;s expression had changed.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Anna.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Where is she?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Samuel stared toward the dark tracks.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Dead.&quot;<\/p>\n<hr>\n<h2><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/?p=16752\">Click here to continue reading: PART 22: Victor\u2019s Message About Thomas\u2019s Dead Daughter Reopened a Twenty-Nine-Year-Old Crash, and the Evidence Suggested Gregory Had Been Protecting Him From the Wrong Crime<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Nobody in the conference room spoke for several seconds after Victor Hale&#39;s final message appeared. If you want them, bring the original codicil. David took my phone from me carefully, &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16730,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16751","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-insightdrama"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16751","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=16751"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16751\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16779,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16751\/revisions\/16779"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/16730"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=16751"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=16751"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=16751"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}