Chapter 13 - THE WOMAN WHO CONFESSED
Federal divers searched the river tunnel for two days.
Grant’s body was not recovered.
Agent Ellis believed the current carried him beyond the estate.
Alexander believed Grant was still alive.
The senator was arrested before leaving the tunnel.
The wet money recovered from his suitcase connected him to offshore accounts named in Rebecca’s evidence.
Celeste was also arrested.
She requested a private meeting with Alexander.
He refused.
Then she offered information about Rebecca’s death.
Alexander attended with Agent Ellis present.
Celeste wore jail clothing and no makeup.
Without the polished dresses and diamonds, she looked younger.
She also looked frightened.
“My father ordered the brake line cut,” she said.
“Grant arranged it.”
“Did you know?”
“Not until afterward.”
Alexander watched her.
“You remained silent.”
“My father said Rebecca was destroying both families.”
“She was protecting my daughter.”
Celeste lowered her eyes.
She admitted becoming involved two years later.
Senator Monroe convinced her that marrying Alexander was the only way to protect herself from prosecution.
Grant promised Lily would be sent to a private school after the trust transfer.
“He told me no one would hurt her.”
“You locked her in a room without medicine.”
“I panicked.”
“You watched Maya try to save her.”
Celeste began crying.
“I was afraid.”
Alexander thought of Rebecca.
Maya.
Daniel.
Lily.
Every person who had acted while afraid.
Fear did not determine character.
Choices did.
Celeste agreed to testify against her father, Dr. Pike and the Vale directors involved in the conspiracy.
Her testimony revealed secret accounts, illegal medical trials and the identities of families paid to remain silent.
She also revealed that Grant maintained a second identity.
Graham Holt.
A border alert showed Graham Holt had attempted to enter Canada six hours after the tunnel collapse.
Grant survived.
Federal agents traced him to a private airfield.
He had chartered a plane to Iceland.
Alexander wanted to go.
Agent Ellis refused.
“This ends with an arrest.”
“He will run again.”
“Then we close every road.”
Maya stood beside Alexander.
“Rebecca asked you to stop them, not become them.”
He looked at her.
She had become the voice that reminded him who he wanted to be.
Grant reached the airfield before dawn.
Federal vehicles surrounded the runway.
He attempted to escape in a fuel truck.
The truck crashed into a hangar.
Grant emerged holding a weapon.
Agents ordered him to surrender.
He raised the gun.
For one second, Alexander believed Grant would force them to kill him.
Then Daniel stepped from an agent’s vehicle.
“You kept me alive because you needed something,” Daniel called.
Grant stared at him.
Daniel held up Rebecca’s tablet.
“You still need this.”
Grant lowered the weapon slightly.
Agent Ellis fired a nonlethal round.
May you like
Grant collapsed.
The man who controlled every key in the Vale mansion was finally placed in handcuffs.
