Chapter 10
There were four recordings.
The second belonged to Julian.
Not for him.
About him.
Daniel described the first time he learned his brother was taking payments.
Julian did not deny the money.
He justified it.
Old captains needed support.
Families expected priority.
Voss could not protect everyone equally.
Some of that was true.
That was what made the corruption dangerous.
It began inside a real problem.
Daniel wanted transparent limits.
Julian wanted private discretion.
Then the coalition turned discretion into pricing.
By the time Julian understood what he helped build, backing out would expose him.
So he stayed.
I looked at him.
“How much did you make?”
His face hardened.
“Not what you think.”
Wrong answer.
“How much?”
“Three million.”
Edmund laughed from across the room.
“Closer to five.”
Julian turned.
I almost smiled.
Traitors become accountants when frightened.
The third recording concerned Daniel’s death.
My hands went cold before I pressed play.
“Mari, if my car goes off the road, do not let anyone convince you I drove recklessly.”
I stopped breathing.
Julian whispered:
“No.”
Daniel continued.
“My brakes were interfered with once already.”
Silence.
Not enough to fail.
Enough to warn him.
He changed vehicles.
Told Samuel.
Then told no one else because he wanted to see who reacted.
Two days later, Edmund asked why Daniel had changed cars.
That revealed the Langs knew.
“How?”
I asked Edmund.
He looked away.
Derek answered.
“Julian.”
My brother-in-law stood.
“No.”
Derek laughed.
“You told Dad.”
Julian’s face went white.
He had mentioned the vehicle change to Edmund.
Casually, he claimed.
Then Daniel died in another car weeks later.
Not proof Julian ordered anything.
Not proof Edmund did.
But the information route existed.
Daniel’s recording continued.
“If I die in a vehicle, assume somebody escalated.”
My hands shook.
Then came his final warning.
“Do not avenge me before you know who benefits.”
Daniel knew me too well.
I looked around the room.
Edmund benefited.
The coalition benefited.
Julian expected to inherit influence.
But there was one more recording.
May you like
Labeled:
WHO BENEFITS MOST.
