Chapter 14 - THE OLD FILE

The archive contained twenty-two years of secrets.

Corporate theft, bribes, political favors, blackmail.

But Ava searched one name.

MICHAEL KNOX.

She found a folder.

Her father’s file contained a security report naming Charles Langford and a recorded call.

Michael Knox: “If anything happens to me, this does not disappear.”

Charles: “You are making a very large problem out of a very small mistake.”

Michael: “Stealing is not a mistake.”

Two weeks later, Michael died. Another file showed a payment to a transit maintenance contractor three days before the crash.

Same contractor later indicted for falsifying inspection records.

Lucian stood across the room with his arm bandaged.

“I’m sorry.”

She looked at him.

“For my father?”

“For using the possibility of his story as part of an investigation.”

“That’s honest.”

“Yes.”

“You should have tried it earlier.”

“I know.”

She turned back to the screen.

Naomi found another file.

Damian’s notes.

He had discovered Ava’s connection to Michael Knox two years into their relationship.

That was when Knox Consulting began.

Ava whispered, “He stayed because of my father.”

Not because she was useful for tuition.

Not only.

He had realized her name could give him access to old records tied to Langford.

Damian had turned their relationship into an intelligence-gathering project.

Ava stood so quickly the chair moved.

“I need air.”

On the terrace, Manhattan glittered below.

Lucian stayed inside.

Good.

The door opened anyway.

Victoria stepped out.

Ava almost laughed.

“You’re not the man I expected.”

Victoria looked exhausted. “Federal agents arrested my father thirty minutes ago.”

Victoria sat.

“I gave them everything I had.”

Ava studied her.

“Why?”

Victoria looked toward the city.

“Because I spent my whole life thinking being loved by powerful people made me powerful.”

Her eyes filled.

“It just made me obedient.”

Ava understood more than she wanted to.

Then Victoria said, “Damian contacted me.”

Ava turned.

“When?”

“Ten minutes ago.”

“What did he want?”

Victoria held out her phone.

A message:

MEET ME AT THE PLACE WE WERE SUPPOSED TO GET MARRIED.

Ava knew the venue.

An unfinished Langford skyscraper overlooking Central Park.

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And beneath the message, Damian had added:

BRING AVA.