Chapter 14 - The Evidence
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“Hostile takeover?” Harold Puit scoffed, slamming his hand on the table. “Bruno is trying to save this company from your incompetence, Rafe!”
Rafe didn't raise his voice. He simply opened a sleek leather folder and slid a series of glossy, printed documents down the center of the table.
“These are offshore bank ledgers,” Rafe announced, his voice slicing through the noise. “They detail over forty million dollars siphoned from Santoro Holdings over the last decade. The funds were routed directly into private accounts controlled by Bruno Santoro and Harold Puit.”
Harold’s face turned a sickly shade of gray. He reached for the documents, his hands shaking violently.
“These are forged!” Bruno shouted, pointing a furious finger at Rafe. “You fabricated this to protect your own failing leadership!”
“I didn't fabricate anything, Uncle,” Rafe replied coldly. “The original ledgers were kept by Arthur Whitaker, my father’s head accountant. He compiled the evidence of your embezzlement before you had him murdered.”
Rafe turned to Nell.
Nell stood up, her posture perfectly straight, commanding the attention of the entire room. She placed the tarnished silver pendant on the mahogany table.
“My father hid the master microfilm inside this locket before he died,” Nell said, her voice clear and unwavering. “It contains the original digital signatures authorizing the hits on both my father and the late Mr. Santoro.”
The silence in the boardroom was absolute. The wealthy elite of Boston stared at the small piece of silver, realizing they were sitting in a room with a murderer.
“It’s a lie!” Bruno roared, completely losing his composure. “She’s a nobody! A maid trying to extort us!”
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Before Bruno could continue his frantic defense, the heavy doors opened again. Ezra walked in, pushing a wheelchair.
Sitting in the chair, heavily bruised and looking absolutely terrified, was Teddy Vain.
