Chapter 10 - Justice and Honor
The cathedral cleared within twenty minutes, leaving only the scent of crushed lilies, the flickering candles, and the heavy silence of divine retribution.
Julian, Ethan, and I stood near the massive bronze entrance doors.
“I didn't expect you to do all this, Julian,” I said, looking at the man whose life I had held in my bloody hands six years ago on an Afghan mountainside. “The invitation was enough. Ethan and I just wanted them to know we weren't afraid anymore.”
Julian smiled—a genuine, warm smile that transformed his austere face.
“Captain Cole, when a woman takes a bullet through her shoulder blade to keep your heart pumping, an invitation is the bare minimum,” Julian said. “The Department of Justice has already frozen the remaining Bennett assets. The three million dollars stolen from your trust, plus six years of compounded interest, will be deposited into your account by Monday afternoon.”
Ethan extended his hand. Julian took it, the two men locking grips in mutual, unbreakable respect.
“Thank you, Vance,” Ethan said quietly. “You took out the trash for us.”
“Consider it a debt partially repaid,” Julian replied. Then he turned back to me, his expression turning solemn. “Though... Claire. There is one more thing.”
I frowned slightly. “What is it?”
Julian glanced back toward the empty, echoing altar, then reached into his breast pocket once more. He pulled out a thick, faded manila envelope tied with old string. It looked weathered, decades old, completely distinct from the legal court documents.
May you like
“When my forensic team raided your father’s private safe at the corporate headquarters last night,” Julian murmured, dropping his voice so only Ethan and I could hear, “they found this sealed inside Grandmother Bennett’s personal lockbox.”
***
