Chapter 12 - Secrets Buried In Plain Sight
The FBI swept through St. Jude's Pier like an army of blue windbreakers.
Adrian and I walked out the side exit before the tactical teams breached the
main office.
His lawyers were already waiting at the perimeter line.
Three men in sharp charcoal suits intercepted the federal agents.
Documents were signed.
Affidavits were exchanged.
The federal prosecutor himself, a gray-haired veteran named Miller, walked over
to our vehicle.
Miller looked at me.
Then he looked at Adrian.
"Her deposition is airtight, Moretti," Miller said, holding the encrypted drive
containing Danny's ledgers.
"Sal Castiglione will never see daylight again."
"And Julian?" Adrian asked quietly.
"Julian’s lawyers are already trying to negotiate a plea," Miller said.
"We're not offering one. He’s going to ADX Florence for thirty years minimum."
Miller turned to me.
He extended his hand.
"Your brother was an American hero, Ms. Rivers."
"He saved this city from twenty billion dollars in narcotics traffic."
"I only wish we could have protected him better."
I shook Miller's hand.
"Just make sure his name is cleared," I said.
"The papers in Philadelphia called him a dirty auditor."
"By tomorrow morning," Miller promised, "every newspaper in the country will
print the truth."
Miller nodded and walked back toward his command vehicle.
Adrian stood beside me against the hood of the Lincoln.
The sun was finally rising over New York harbor.
The pink and golden light broke through the morning fog, painting the water in
brilliant fire.
"It's over," I whispered, the weight of three years finally sliding off my
May you like
chest.
"Almost," Adrian said.
