PART 20 — THE FALL OF THE MATRIARCH
PART 20 — THE FALL OF THE MATRIARCH
I stood on the sidewalk. Traffic passed by. The world was moving on. “You misunderstood the situation, Margaret,” I said softly. “I don’t control the FBI.” “You gave them the ledgers!” she shrieked. The mask had completely slipped. “You destroyed my family!” “No,” I replied. “Your arrogance destroyed your family. I just handed them the mirror.” Through the phone, I heard loud knocking. “FBI! Open the door!” Margaret was sobbing now. The cold, calculated woman who had told me my military title didn’t intimidate her was crying like a child. “Victoria, have mercy.” “Did you have mercy on my daughter?” I asked. “When you locked her in a room? When you tried to destroy her reputation? When your sons beat her and you looked the other way?” Silence on the line. Just heavy, terrified breathing. “Actions have consequences,” I said. “And yours have just arrived.” I hung up the phone. I didn’t feel joy. I didn’t feel triumph. Revenge is a messy, hollow thing. But justice? Justice is precise. Justice is final. I turned to Emily. She was watching me. “Was that her?” Emily asked. I nodded. “It’s over. For real this time.” Emily took a deep breath. A breath that seemed to fill her entire soul. “Let’s go back to the center,” she said. “I have a counseling session to run.”
