Chapter 8 - THE MONEY THAT DID NOT BELONG TO THEM
Marissa couldn't speak.
Anthony walked toward the window.
“You want the truth?”
“Yes.”
“The money came through companies.”
“I know.”
“But those companies weren't really ours.”
“Whose were they?”
Anthony didn't answer.
“Whose?”
He looked at her.
“People who needed somewhere to move it.”
Marissa felt cold.
“You were laundering money?”
Anthony shook his head.
“Not exactly.”
“That isn't an answer.”
“I was a middleman.”
“That is still an answer.”
Anthony looked exhausted.
“Eleanor knew.”
Marissa stared at him.
“She knew?”
“She arranged the first meeting.”
“Why?”
“Because she believed the family business needed protection.”
“What family business?”
Anthony looked toward the black folder.
“You think Cole Holdings was built from nothing?”
“No.”
“It wasn't.”
Marissa sat down.
“Then why did you put my name on the accounts?”
Anthony looked away.
“Because you were clean.”
The room went silent.
Marissa slowly stood.
“You used me.”
Anthony said nothing.
“You used my name.”
“I was going to fix it.”
“When?”
“When everything was finished.”
“What was finished?”
Anthony did not answer.
Marissa stepped closer.
“You ruined my reputation.”
“I protected you.”
“You nearly made me responsible for crimes I didn't commit.”
“I was protecting the family.”
“No.”
Marissa's voice became colder.
“You were protecting yourself.”
Anthony clenched his fists.
“You don't understand what would happen if those people discovered the original records.”
“Who are they?”
He looked toward the door.
“I can't tell you.”
“Can't?”
“I won't.”
Marissa nodded.
“Then I will find out.”
Anthony stared at her.
“That's what David tried to do.”
“What happened to him?”
“I don't know.”
“Don't lie.”
Anthony looked away.
Marissa understood.
“You know.”
He remained silent.
“You know where David is.”
Anthony whispered:
“Maybe.”
The front door opened.
Eleanor entered.
She stopped when she saw them.
“What is he doing here?”
Anthony looked at his mother.
“It's over.”
Eleanor's face hardened.
“You told me you had this under control.”
“I did.”
“You were supposed to.”
Marissa watched them.
“You two have been working together.”
Eleanor looked at her.
“You have no idea.”
“I know enough.”
Eleanor laughed.
“You think a few bank records make you powerful?”
Marissa looked at her.
“No.”
She raised the folder.
“This does.”
Eleanor's face changed.
Anthony whispered:
“Mom.”
Eleanor stared at the folder.
Then she said something Marissa had never expected.
“Where did you get the original?”
Marissa froze.
She hadn't mentioned an original.
Neither had Anthony.
Eleanor realized her mistake.
Marissa stepped closer.
“You just told me it exists.”
Eleanor said nothing.
Marissa turned toward Anthony.
“And you knew.”
Anthony closed his eyes.
The room became silent.
Then someone knocked at the door.
Three slow knocks.
Everyone looked toward the entrance.
Thomas Reed stood outside.
But he wasn't alone.
Beside him was David Mercer.
Alive.
Marissa stared.
Anthony stepped backward.
Eleanor whispered:
“No.”
May you like
David looked directly at her.
“Hello, Eleanor.”
