Chapter 10 - THE BETRAYAL INSIDE THE HALE EMPIRE
Peter returned to Chicago under legal protection.
He brought evidence.
Names.
Financial records.
Copies of correspondence.
And the missing key to the Lake Cipher.
Hannah worked with independent investigators to organize the material.
Vincent cooperated through his attorneys.
The investigation revealed that Raymond Pike had used legitimate freight operations to conceal criminal activity.
Aleksander Voric had helped move money through shell companies.
Martin Keller, the expensive translator, had deliberately concealed his ability to interpret portions of the journal.
He had been paid to keep Vincent confused.
Raymond tried to disappear.
But investigators located him before he could leave the country.
Voric was detained after authorities obtained evidence linking him to the network.
The case expanded.
More witnesses came forward.
More records were uncovered.
And Vincent learned the truth about his father's death.
Edward Hale had been murdered after discovering the trafficking operation.
Raymond had arranged the attack.
Then spent eleven years standing beside Vincent.
Advising him.
Protecting him.
Calling himself family.
Vincent sat alone in his office when the confirmation arrived.
Hannah found him staring at a photograph.
Edward Hale.
Young Vincent.
Raymond Pike.
Three men smiling at a summer barbecue.
Hannah stood in the doorway.
“Vincent?”
He didn't look up.
“He helped bury my father.”
She approached slowly.
“I'm sorry.”
Vincent laughed bitterly.
“I trusted him with everything.”
Hannah sat beside him.
“Trusting someone doesn't make you responsible for their betrayal.”
He looked at her.
“I should have known.”
She shook her head.
“You know now.”
Vincent stared at the photograph.
May you like
Then placed it facedown.
“And now I decide what kind of man I'm going to be.”
