Chapter 10 - THE BROTHER WHO BET EVERYTHING ON MY HONESTY
Michael had gambled twenty million dollars on one belief.
That I wouldn’t steal.
I didn’t know whether to be touched or furious.
Both seemed appropriate.
We found him two days later.
He surrendered voluntarily to Detective Bennett at a small church near Lake Michigan.
When I saw him, I knew immediately.
Same eyes.
Same nose.
Same habit of rubbing his thumb against his palm when nervous.
He was thirty-eight.
Thirteen years older than me.
My brother.
“Hannah.”
My chest tightened.
“You knew about me.”
He nodded.
“All my life.”
I laughed bitterly.
“Wonderful. Apparently everyone knew except me.”
His face crumpled.
“I’m sorry.”
“Why didn’t you find me?”
“Because Margaret begged me not to.”
My eyes filled with tears.
“She wanted you safe.”
“Safe from Malcolm?”
Michael looked toward him.
“From the family.”
Malcolm didn’t defend himself.
That mattered.
Michael continued.
“Raymond’s people survived inside the organization. Some still do.”
He handed Detective Bennett a file.
Names.
Accounts.
Locations.
Then he looked at Malcolm.
“You built legitimate businesses on top of systems Raymond used.”
Malcolm’s jaw tightened.
“Without knowing.”
“That doesn’t erase the damage.”
“No.”
The answer surprised Michael.
Then Malcolm said:
“I’ll open the records.”
Michael stared.
“All of them?”
“Yes.”
The room went silent.
That meant exposure.
Investigations.
Possibly criminal liability.
Loss of control.
Malcolm seemed to understand.
He looked toward me.
“What else?”
Michael took a breath.
“Margaret is alive.”
My heart stopped.
“Where?”
“Elaine moved her three days ago.”
I stood.
“Why?”
“Because Margaret has the original ledger.”
“What ledger?”
“The one proving who took Malcolm’s father, faked Vincent’s death, and buried the Hourglass network inside Avery companies.”
Detective Bennett leaned forward.
“Where is she?”
Michael looked toward Malcolm.
“At the old Avery estate.”
Malcolm’s face changed.
“That property burned thirty years ago.”
Michael shook his head.
“The house did.”
May you like
Then he whispered:
“The underground medical wing didn’t.”
