Chapter 18 - The Mayor's Dinner
The mayor held a charity dinner three nights later.
Lily went as a server.
Marcus had found her a clean uniform. Sofia had insisted on walking beside her until the doors opened. Ruiz had a team outside, and Victor had been ordered to remain in the hospital.
"Don't do anything reckless," Ruiz told Lily through her earpiece.
"Define reckless."
"Anything you learned from your father."
Lily nearly laughed.
The ballroom glittered with chandeliers and polished silver. Mayor Harlan stood beneath the stage lights, greeting donors as if he had never heard of Pier 19.
Lily carried a tray past him.
"Miss Chen," he said warmly. "I remember you."
"Do you?"
"Of course. Terrible night at the restaurant. I heard you were very brave."
"People say a lot of things."
He leaned closer. "Your mother was a difficult woman."
Lily's hand tightened around the tray.
"Did you know her?"
"I knew of her."
"Then you know she kept records."
Harlan's smile stayed in place, but his eyes sharpened.
"Be careful what you repeat."
"I am."
He moved away.
Lily reached the service corridor and sent Ruiz a coded message. Harlan had recognized the name. He knew the ledger existed.
A few minutes later, the mayor took the stage.
"Tonight, we celebrate second chances," he began. "We celebrate the people who give children a future."
Lily watched the screen behind him.
A video began to play. It showed the mayor visiting shelters, holding hands with children, cutting ribbons.
Then the image changed.
A scanned page from the original ledger appeared.
The room went silent.
Harlan turned toward the screen.
His face drained of color.
May you like
The next page showed the payment authorization.
His signature was at the bottom.
