Chapter 12 - The Last Ghost
Nikolai opened the door with his weapon raised.
Daniel stood outside.
Beside him was Leon Helian.
Older.
Ill.
Alive.
Vera almost laughed from disbelief.
“Does anyone in this world actually stay dead?”
Leon coughed.
“Not the stubborn ones.”
Nikolai kept the gun trained on him.
Leon had not come to fight.
He had come to confess.
Vale had kept him alive because Leon possessed information.
The second archive belonged to Senator Marcus Dane.
Gregor’s older brother.
A man preparing to announce a presidential campaign.
He had quietly protected Vale’s organization for twenty years.
“He knows Vale has been arrested,” Leon said. “He’s cleaning everything.”
“Why come here?”
“Because Gregor was my friend.”
Nikolai’s expression hardened.
“And Marcus let Vale kill him.”
Leon nodded.
The final archive was hidden beneath the state capitol annex.
Obtaining it legally required warrants.
Daniel contacted investigators.
Marcus moved faster.
By morning he publicly denied any connection to Vale and accused Nikolai’s businesses of financing organized crime.
Reporters surrounded the estate.
Vera watched from the greenhouse.
Three years ago she had worried about fertilizer prices.
Now helicopters hovered above the lake.
Nikolai joined her.
“You can leave.”
She turned.
“Excuse me?”
“I can arrange somewhere safe until this is finished.”
“You still haven’t learned anything.”
“I knew you would say that.”
“Then why ask?”
“Hope.”
She took his hand.
“We finish it.”
The federal investigation secured the archive.
Marcus Dane was arrested.
His records confirmed everything.
Gregor had secretly tried to expose his brother.
That was why Vale killed him.
Leon surrendered.
Elena testified.
Anton testified.
Daniel testified.
Elias testified from custody.
For months, the network unraveled.
Vera thought the danger had finally ended.
Then one evening, while pruning roses, she found an envelope beneath a planter.
No stamp.
No name.
Inside was a photograph.
Nikolai sleeping.
Taken through his bedroom window.
On the back:
HE TOOK EVERYTHING FROM US.
NOW WE TAKE EVERYTHING FROM HIM.
Vera ran toward the mansion.
“Nikolai!”
No answer.
She reached his study.
Empty.
His phone lay on the desk.
Blood marked the floor.
Vera stopped breathing.
May you like
Then the hidden passage behind the fireplace stood open.
Someone had taken Nikolai into the tunnels.
