Chapter 39 - the confession Gideon wrote
Gideon’s attorney attempted to leave, but Grace and two federal investigators entered the dining room.
The attorney immediately claimed he had only been asked to witness a voluntary statement.
Nora placed the confession inside an evidence bag.
“Your client included crimes Malcolm could not have committed without access to the family trust.”
“That is a matter for the authorities.”
“It will be.”
Malcolm looked from Nora to the investigators.
“Did you contact them?”
“Three days ago.”
“You said disclosure would destabilize the company.”
“That was before Northstar purchased the debt.”
Malcolm finally understood. Nora had delayed his arrest not to save him, but to protect the employees and investors from Gideon’s financial attack.
One investigator asked Malcolm whether he wished to cooperate.
He looked at the confession Gideon had prepared.
“If I speak, my children could become targets.”
Maya entered the room behind Grace.
“We already became targets when you used our names,” she said.
Malcolm’s face collapsed.
He told the investigators about the lenders, the forged petition and the messages he had received after Elias disappeared. He admitted approving illegal transfers and concealing evidence.
But he refused to claim responsibility for Katherine’s stolen royalties.
“That was Gideon,” he said. “I learned about it years later.”
The attorney interrupted.
“My client is not present, and these accusations are unsupported.”
Celeste placed her phone on the table.
“I have Gideon’s voice.”
The recordings documented discussions about the debt attack and Malcolm’s removal, but they did not directly prove the original theft.
Gideon had always allowed other people to perform the criminal act.
Grace opened Elias’s decrypted drive.
One file remained locked.
Its title was THE FIRST TRANSFER.
The password required three phrases: one from Nora, one from Maya and one from Elias.
They possessed the first two.
Elias had the third.
Without it, Gideon could argue that every later transaction was part of a legitimate trust arrangement.
Malcolm looked toward the dark city.
“Elias will not help us.”
May you like
Nora picked up her coat.
“Then I will give him a reason to.”
