Chapter 7
I didn't let Jake go. But I didn't call the police either.
I sat him down on a fallen log.
"Talk," I said.
He took a deep breath.
"Arthur Vance is being investigated," he said. "For fraud. Embezzlement. Money laundering. Someone inside his organization is leaking everything to the authorities."
"And that means threats against his daughter?"
"The leaks are coming from his own brothers," Jake said. "They want Arthur gone. They want control of the empire. And they're using Lila to break him."
My blood ran cold.
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Because I have a daughter too," he said. "And what they're planning... it goes too far."
I stood up.
"I need proof."
"I have it," he said. "But I can't give it to you here. Meet me day after tomorrow. At the old mill. At dawn."
I let him go.
When I got back to the house, Arthur was waiting.
"You found something," he said.
I told him everything.
He went pale. Sat down hard.
"My brothers," he whispered. "I raised them. Trusted them. And they'd hurt Lila?"
"Power changes people," I said.
He looked at me.
May you like
"Be careful at that meeting. If they're watching... they'll be waiting for you."
"I know," I said. "But I have to go."
