Chapter 16 - Richard Harrington's Grave
Rain fell harder at the cemetery.
Federal agents surrounded the grounds, but Emma still felt exposed walking between the headstones.
Adrian led them to the Harrington family plot.
There, beside Richard Harrington's grave, stood the same stone woman from the photograph.
One hand held a carved book against her chest.
The stone book was faded red.
Emma touched it.
Hollow.
Adrian found a seam along the spine.
"There's a lock."
The steel key marked VILLA did not fit.
The brass 7714 key did.
The carved book opened.
Inside was a waterproof red notebook.
No one spoke.
Emma lifted it out.
The first page contained one sentence in Richard Harrington's handwriting.
IF THIS BOOK IS OPEN, MY LAWYER HAS BETRAYED ME.
Adrian shut his eyes.
They turned pages.
Names. Dates. Payments. Judges. Contractors. Political donors. Executives.
Thomas Bell had built a private network around the Harrington fortune.
But one name shocked Adrian more than the rest.
His own.
ADRIAN - DO NOT TELL HIM. KEEP HIM CLEAN.
Richard had protected his son from the corruption while allowing it to grow around him.
Adrian looked sick.
Emma found Nora's name.
NORA REED - TRUST HER.
Then another entry.
VIVIAN COLE - RECRUITED BY BELL. WANTS OUT. POSSIBLE WITNESS.
Emma stared at it.
Vivian had been telling the truth about at least one thing.
A shot cracked across the cemetery.
Stone exploded beside them.
Agents shouted.
"Down!"
Emma dropped behind Richard's headstone.
Another shot.
A dark figure moved near the trees.
Gavin.
Adrian reached for the red notebook.
Emma shoved it under her coat.
Agents returned fire.
Gavin ran between mausoleums.
Emma saw him disappear behind a marble wall.
Then a car engine roared from the service road.
"He's leaving!" Adrian shouted.
Emma's phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
A photo appeared.
Vivian in a hospital bed.
A man in a surgical mask stood behind her holding a knife.
Text followed.
BRING THE RED BOOK ALONE.
May you like
OR SHE DIES.
Richard Harrington's grave looked ordinary in the rain. Emma thought about how power always ended in the same amount of ground, no matter how many names it controlled while alive.
