Chapter 18 - The Last Offer

Marcus requested a final meeting through counsel. Mara advised me that I didn't have to go. I chose to let the lawyers discuss it in a recorded conference, with no private contact between us.

On-screen Marcus looked thinner but still spoke like he owned the room.

"Ten million, Ivy. Your own place. Whatever you want. Sign and move on."

"What happens to the people at Alder Court?"

"They'll get repairs. They always do eventually."

"Walter Pierce didn't."

His jaw twitched. "You think you're better than me because you cried on television?"

"I haven't been on television. You have."

Mara stepped in. "My client will not agree to restrictions that interfere with lawful cooperation or truthful testimony. Send any revised proposal in writing."

Marcus looked straight at the camera. "You wanted to humiliate me. Congratulations."

I thought of the dining room, the way he had ordered me to kneel among the broken pieces.

"I wanted you to stop," I said. "You kept giving me reasons not to."

The call ended. I waited until my hands stopped shaking.

Two days later, investigators identified the man in the alley camera image. He had worked as Marcus's driver, but his jacket was not proof that Marcus ordered the fire. Further evidence connected the driver to the forced entry, and prosecutors filed charges related to the incident. He was entitled to defend himself, as Marcus was entitled to defend against the financial charges being investigated.

Then came the news we had been waiting for: the independent audit confirmed that millions had been billed for work never performed. Civil claims sought repayment, while prosecutors charged Marcus and an associate over falsified records and wire transfers.

I expected triumph. Instead I felt tired enough to sleep for a week.

Dani sat beside me on the porch. "You're allowed to be done with him," she said.

"What if they don't believe us?"

"Then we'll keep presenting what we can prove. But you don't have to carry every possible outcome by yourself."

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My phone lit up. A message from Mara contained one sentence.

MARCUS HAS AGREED TO DISCUSS A GUILTY PLEA.