Chapter 11 - THE COMMONWEALTH BANK VAULT
Three days later, the rain finally stopped, leaving Boston under a crisp, autumn sky that smelled of salt water and fallen leaves.
Nell stood inside the underground vault of the Commonwealth Bank on State Street, the heavy steel door standing open behind her.
With her, inside the vault, stood Rafael Santoro and the federal prosecutor handling the Vain RICO case.
She reached into her coat pocket, pulled out the worn silver locket, and pressed the release. She took out the tiny square of micro-film and handed it across the metal table to the prosecutor.
"This is the original duplicate," Nell said, her voice steady and clear. "Every wire transfer from the harbor union to the Vain accounts between 2010 and 2020. My father recorded it all before they rigged his brakes."
The prosecutor took it with trembling fingers, looking at it as if it were the Holy Grail. "This... this is enough to put half the state legislature behind bars, Miss Whitaker."
"Make sure they stay there," Nell said.
The prosecutor nodded respectfully and walked out of the vault, leaving Nell and Rafe alone in the quiet, climate-controlled space.
Rafe leaned against the marble pillar, his hands in his pockets, watching her with those intense, gray eyes.
"You didn't have to give it to them yourself," Rafe said. "I could have handled the delivery."
"My father trusted the badge," Nell said softly, closing the empty locket and holding it tightly in her palm. "I needed to finish what he started."
"You did more than finish it," Rafe said, stepping closer. "You broke the system that broke him."
He paused, a rare, genuine softness touching his features.
"And now? What does Eleanor Whitaker do now that the ghosts are finally laid to rest?"
Nell looked up at him, the fear that had defined her life for the past year completely gone.
"I don't know," she said quietly. "I suppose I need a new job. Preferably one where the boss doesn't shoot people in the foyer."
Rafe let out a low, rich chuckle—the first time she had ever heard him truly laugh.
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"Well," Rafe said, offering her his arm. "The position of head of estate security is currently vacant. And I hear the pay is quite good."
THE END OF CHAPTER 11
