Chapter 15 - Elena’s Second Courtroom
Nathan arrived at the hydroelectric plant before midnight.
Rebecca sat beside him.
Ruiz followed in an unmarked vehicle with federal agents positioned miles away.
Daniel remained in custody.
The ledger had been replaced with a near-perfect copy.
Inside the plant, Charles watched security monitors.
Elena remained tied to the chair.
She had spent the previous hour talking.
Not pleading.
Talking.
“You were never supposed to inherit Howard Industries.”
Charles ignored her.
“Your brother Robert was chosen.”
Silence.
“You spent your entire life proving you were smarter.”
Charles poured another cup of coffee.
“You built hidden accounts.”
“You manipulated Pike.”
“You controlled Daniel.”
“You convinced Vanessa that revenge was justice.”
Charles finally turned.
“You think you understand me?”
“I understand people who need an audience.”
His eyes narrowed.
Elena looked toward the cameras.
“That’s why you brought me here.”
“You want the family to hear you explain how brilliant you were.”
Charles smiled faintly.
“Maybe.”
“And brilliant men always make the same mistake.”
“What mistake?”
“They keep talking.”
A buzzer sounded.
Nathan had arrived.
Charles untied Elena from the chair but secured one wrist to a metal railing.
He opened the main door remotely.
Nathan and Rebecca entered.
Nathan saw Elena.
His face changed with relief.
Charles raised a handgun.
“Stop.”
Nathan stopped.
Rebecca held the ledger case.
Charles looked at her.
“You’ve caused more trouble than you were ever worth.”
Rebecca replied calmly.
“And you’ve spent seven years frightened of a book.”
Charles smiled.
“Give it to me.”
She placed the case on the floor and kicked it forward.
Charles opened it.
He flipped through pages.
Satisfied.
Elena watched his expression.
He believed it was real.
Charles looked toward Nathan.
“Your father understood power.”
Nathan replied.
“My father was a coward.”
Charles’s smile vanished.
“He built an empire.”
“With stolen money.”
“He protected your future.”
“He tried to have me killed.”
“He tried to stop you from destroying thousands of jobs over some childish idea of morality.”
Nathan stared.
“Thank you.”
Charles frowned.
“For what?”
“For saying it clearly.”
Elena smiled.
Charles looked at her.
Then he looked toward the ceiling.
The old security camera had a tiny blinking light.
Charles fired at it.
The lens shattered.
But Ruiz’s voice suddenly came through a speaker.
“Too late, Charles.”
Charles spun around.
Nathan moved.
The gun fired.
Rebecca screamed.
Elena ducked.
Nathan struck Charles’s wrist.
The weapon skidded across the floor.
Charles punched Nathan.
Nathan fell.
Charles ran toward the exit.
But Elena stretched her leg across his path.
Charles stumbled.
Rebecca kicked the gun away.
Ruiz entered with federal agents.
“Charles Howard.”
“Don’t move.”
Charles looked around.
For the first time in decades, he had nowhere left to go.
Elena watched him being handcuffed.
The mansion had been her first courtroom.
May you like
This abandoned plant had become the second.
And Charles had delivered his own confession.
