Chapter 9 - Rebecca’s Forgotten Letter
Daniel refused to believe Ortiz had betrayed them until he saw the security footage.
She had left through the service tunnel with Bell.
Grace watched beside him.
“She warned us about her father.”
“That doesn't prove anything.”
“Daniel.”
“I know.”
He hated hearing himself defend someone because he wanted innocence to be true.
He had learned where that could lead.
They searched Ortiz's apartment.
Empty.
But inside a kitchen cabinet they found Rebecca's handwriting again.
Another letter.
This one addressed to Lena.
Daniel stared.
Rebecca had known Ortiz.
The letter revealed that Ortiz's father had secretly helped Rebecca and Raymond.
He had pretended loyalty to Mercer while gathering evidence.
Rebecca trusted him.
Which meant Ortiz might not be betraying them.
She might be continuing the plan.
Then Daniel's phone rang.
Ortiz.
“Don't speak,” she said. “Just listen.”
Bell had taken the microfilm because she deliberately allowed him to.
The microfilm was a duplicate.
A tracker was hidden inside the tube.
“Where is he?”
“Old Mercer plant outside Briar Glen.”
“I'm coming.”
“No.”
“Lena—”
“Daniel, Bell wants you.”
“Why?”
“He thinks Raymond gave you the original ledger.”
“I don't have it.”
“I know. Bell doesn't.”
Daniel looked at Grace.
Grace was already putting on her coat.
“No,” he said.
“Yes.”
“Absolutely not.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“You're adorable when you think the robe still works outside court.”
Despite everything, Daniel almost smiled.
Federal agents surrounded the plant.
Ortiz was inside with Bell.
So was Charles Mercer.
For the first time, the two men stood together without pretending respectability.
Their conversation was being recorded.
Mercer accused Bell of ordering Thomas's murder.
Bell accused Mercer of killing Rebecca.
Each blamed the other.
Each confirmed enough.
Then Bell discovered the tracker.
The operation collapsed.
Shots were fired.
Agents entered.
Mercer surrendered.
Bell ran.
Daniel found Ortiz injured but alive.
Grace heard a door slam deeper inside the plant.
Bell had escaped into the old warehouse.
Daniel followed despite orders.
Grace followed Daniel.
They found Bell standing beside an industrial furnace.
He held a pistol.
“You ruined your career for a cleaning woman,” Bell said.
Daniel moved in front of Grace.
“No.”
Bell smiled.
“No?”
“I ruined my career seven years ago when I signed a sentence without understanding the machinery behind it.”
“You followed the evidence.”
“I followed incomplete evidence.”
“That isn't your fault.”
Daniel looked at Grace.
“Some of it is.”
Bell laughed.
“Still desperate to be righteous.”
“No.”
Daniel shook his head.
“Just finally willing to be accountable.”
Bell raised the gun.
Grace saw it first.
She pushed Daniel.
The shot missed.
Ortiz fired from behind them.
Bell's weapon dropped.
Agents rushed in.
It was over.
Or so they believed.
Charles Mercer agreed to cooperate.
Elaine Porter was arrested.
Bell faced federal charges.
Thomas Caldwell's conviction was formally vacated.
Grace stood in court when another judge announced:
“The conviction of Thomas Andrew Caldwell is hereby set aside.”
She cried.
Daniel stood at the back.
He did not approach until everyone left.
Grace turned.
“He's innocent.”
“He always was.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“Today everyone else knows.”
Daniel held her.
Weeks passed.
Then the judicial conduct commission issued its findings.
Daniel had not participated knowingly in corruption.
But questions remained about his relationship with Grace during the investigation.
He submitted his resignation.
Grace was furious.
“You don't have to.”
“Yes.”
“Are you doing this because of me?”
“No.”
“Then why?”
Daniel looked around his empty chambers.
“Because I don't want to spend the rest of my life defending the person I used to be.”
“What will you do?”
“I don't know.”
Grace smiled.
“That terrifies you.”
“Completely.”
She kissed him.
Then the clerk entered carrying one final box recovered from Bell's private vault.
It contained personal materials belonging to Thomas.
Grace opened it.
A letter sat on top.
TO GRACE.
Her hands shook.
She opened it.
May you like
The first line made her collapse into Daniel's chair.
If you're reading this, then someone finally found out that I survived the attack.
