Chapter 4 - THE MAN CALLED THE COLLECTOR
The Collector was not a stranger to Vincent Rossy.
His real name was Adrian Voss.
He operated an illegal lending network across Queens, Brooklyn, and parts of New Jersey.
For years, Voss had remained beneath Vincent's attention.
He preyed on people who couldn't qualify for bank loans.
Charged impossible interest.
Used threats to collect.
And occasionally recruited desperate borrowers into criminal activity.
Vincent had tolerated many ugly things in his organization.
But Voss's name carried a particular memory.
Six months earlier, shortly before Vincent was poisoned, Voss had requested permission to expand his operation.
Vincent refused.
The man had smiled.
Apologized.
And disappeared from the conversation.
Now he was threatening the woman who had helped Vincent eat.
Vincent sat behind his desk.
“Tell me about your brother.”
Norah folded her hands.
“Caleb's twenty-three.”
She swallowed.
“He started gambling when he was nineteen. Sports betting, cards, online casinos. He kept losing.”
Vincent listened.
“He borrowed money from people he shouldn't have.”
“How much?”
“Twenty thousand originally.”
“And now?”
“Fifty.”
Vincent's jaw tightened.
Norah continued.
“He disappeared four months ago. I haven't heard from him since.”
“Did he leave voluntarily?”
“I don't know.”
Vincent leaned forward.
“Miss Bennett, did Voss ever make you sign anything?”
She nodded.
“A payment agreement.”
“Did you have a lawyer review it?”
She laughed bitterly.
“With what money?”
Vincent said nothing.
Norah looked away.
“I know it was stupid.”
“No.”
His voice was firm.
“You were frightened.”
She stared.
Vincent continued.
“Fear makes people agree to things they would never accept otherwise.”
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Norah said:
“I don't want you to pay him.”
Vincent raised an eyebrow.
“Why?”
“Because then I'd owe you.”
He studied her.
“You think I'd use it against you?”
“I think people with power usually do.”
Vincent looked at her for a long time.
Then nodded.
“Fair.”
Norah blinked.
He continued.
“I'll have an attorney review the agreement. No payment. No favors. No debt transferred to me.”
She hesitated.
“And my brother?”
“We'll try to find him.”
Norah looked down.
“Why?”
Vincent's answer was quiet.
“Because nobody should have to disappear over a debt.”
She studied him.
Then asked the question that had been growing inside her since their first meeting.
“Do you really believe that?”
Vincent didn't answer immediately.
May you like
Finally, he said:
“I'm beginning to.”
