Chapter 4 - The Judge in Lillian’s Ledger
Thomas opened a locked drawer.
Inside was a small black ledger.
Christian frowned.
“Another book.”
Thomas almost smiled.
“Your mother said the same thing.”
Christian stared.
“She saw this?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Six years ago.”
Thomas handed it over.
Names.
Dates.
Case numbers.
Payments.
One repeated name.
Judge Harold Reed.
Christian looked up.
“Alessandra’s grandfather.”
“Yes.”
Thomas continued.
“Shaw paid him.”
“For rulings.”
“Yes.”
“Which cases?”
“Labor disputes.”
“Tax cases.”
“Asset seizures.”
Christian looked at the amounts.
“Millions.”
“Yes.”
“Did Lillian know?”
Thomas closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
“How much?”
“She maintained the account books.”
Christian stared.
“So she helped.”
“For a time.”
Christian gave him a look.
Thomas stopped.
“No excuses.”
“Good.”
Thomas continued.
“Lillian was young.”
“Still not an excuse.”
“No.”
“She later copied everything.”
“Then gave it to Martin.”
“Yes.”
“And Martin hid her father’s name.”
“Yes.”
Christian looked at the sealed transcript.
“My father accused him.”
“Yes.”
“Why did the case collapse?”
Thomas took a breath.
“Because Shaw learned I had testified.”
“What did he do?”
“He threatened you.”
Christian’s jaw tightened.
“That part I knew.”
“He also threatened Lillian.”
“And Martin.”
“Yes.”
“Then Martin sealed everything.”
“Yes.”
Christian looked at him.
“And you entered protection.”
“Yes.”
“What happened to the case?”
“Officially?”
“Yes.”
“Insufficient evidence.”
Christian laughed.
“Unofficially?”
“Martin removed the evidence that would have connected Shaw directly to the judge.”
Christian stared.
“To protect his wife.”
“Yes.”
“And destroyed the case.”
“Yes.”
Thomas nodded.
“He told himself he was saving Lillian.”
Christian looked at the black ledger.
“What did Lillian think?”
“She wanted the case to continue.”
Christian frowned.
“So Martin protected her against her will.”
“Yes.”
Christian laughed quietly.
“Everyone really loved that method.”
Thomas looked ashamed.
Christian continued reading.
Then stopped.
One payment.
To T. VALE.
His father.
He looked up.
“What is this?”
Thomas went still.
Christian’s voice sharpened.
“You took money from Shaw.”
“Yes.”
Silence.
“How much?”
“Fifty thousand.”
“Why?”
“To make him believe I had changed sides.”
Christian stared.
“Were you undercover?”
“No.”
Thomas looked at him.
“I was scared.”
“That is not the same thing.”
“No.”
“What did you do with the money?”
Thomas opened another drawer.
Bank records.
Donation receipts.
Legal fees.
Witness relocation expenses.
Christian frowned.
“You used it to fund your own exit.”
“Yes.”
“That is still taking his money.”
“Yes.”
Thomas did not defend himself.
Christian respected that more than he wanted to.
He turned another page.
Then saw Martin Reed’s name.
Payment.
Large.
Christian stared.
“Martin took money too.”
Thomas nodded.
“When?”
“After I disappeared.”
“For what?”
“I do not know.”
Christian’s face hardened.
“Convenient.”
Thomas shook his head.
“I truly do not.”
Then:
“But your mother did.”
Christian stopped.
“My mother knew?”
“Yes.”
“What did she say?”
Thomas looked toward her photograph.
“She said Martin was paying someone off.”
“Who?”
Thomas answered:
“Beatrice.”
Christian froze.
The old court clerk.
Outside in the hallway.
He stood.
Opened the door.
Beatrice looked up.
Christian held the ledger.
“Why did Martin pay you?”
Her face changed.
Thomas closed his eyes.
Beatrice slowly stood.
“Not to silence me.”
Christian stared.
“Then why?”
“To keep something safe.”
“What?”
Beatrice looked at Thomas.
He seemed confused too.
She opened her handbag.
Removed a small brass key.
“Evidence locker 217.”
Christian frowned.
“What is inside?”
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