Chapter 44: Emily's Redemption

Emily had not slept in a day. Her decision weighing down on her, she wandered the hotel room closely clutching the fading manila folder. She knew the costs involved in her intended behavior. Still, this was the least she could do to atone for the treason and the way she had practically destroyed Aidan's life by equipping Victor with knowledge about him.

Though a thousand concepts tore across her brain, one jumped out more than the others: Would Aidan even pay attention to her? She couldn't assign blame if he didn't. Not after all that had happened, she had any right to ask for his trust. Still, this material—the documentation she had gathered on Victor's involvement in a global crime ring—was too damning to ignore. For Victor, it was his lifeline, his gateway to unimaginably great wealth and power. In the right hands, though, it might bring about his death.

Emily drew a long breath and turned to face the mirror. You are capable, she added gently. Hoping Aidan would be open to her; she grabbed her coat, dumped the documents into her bag, and left the hotel going toward his office.

Aidan sat at his desk, steepled fingers over the most current documentation Evelyn had provided from the board. Strategy occupied his thinking as he constantly considered the next steps he would take to assure Pierce Corp.'s future. No matter how hard he focused, though, he couldn't get rid of the sensation that Victor was hidden, ready for the perfect assault.

He came out of meditation at a rap on the door. Marcus popped his head in and seemed somewhat shocked.

"Aiden, someone else is here to see you. You'll want to talk to her.

Aidan lifted his eyebrows and looked skyward. "who are it?"

Marcus turned aside and then Emily entered. The air in the chamber changed immediately, thickening under pressure. Aidan's face grew rigid, then he leaned back and folded his arms across his chest. Marcus peered between them, dubious, then closed the door quietly behind him.

Emily stood there clearly uncomfortable, but she also possessed a resolve he had never seen before. She clasped a manila package to her chest, as though it were her only lifeline.

"I know you don't want to see me," she continued, her voice strong in spite of the flutter of dread in her eyes. "But I know something that would help you to permanently kill Victor."

Aidan gazed closed. And after all you have done, I am expected to believe you now?

Emily stammered; her cheeks became white. I know I am not worthy of your confidence. None of this, though, relates to me. Concerned about Victor, this is Mostly, I owe Aidan this much. Said another way, hear me out.

He peered at her unwavering for a minute. His head went back to the betrayal, to the many times she had misled him. He wanted her to be sent someplace carrying her secrets. Still, she had something in her eyes—a authenticity that nibbled at his will. He exhaled and tilted slightly forward. " Wonderful. I listened.

Emily came up closely and then laid the manila packet softly on his desk. She opened it to find reams of records, account statements, and images showing a web of worldwide illicit conduct. Aidan's mistrust wavers when he reviews the data and notes financial transfers, secret offshore accounts, and correspondence between Victor and some of the most prominent criminals.

"This... this is Victor's whole operation," Emily said softly, her voice just barely trembling. "He is linked to a syndicated crime ring with worldwide coverage. Human trafficking, money laundering, armaments trade. Here all of this is correct.

Aidan peered at the data, his eye foggy. It was even worse than he had imagined. Not simply dishonest, Victor was firmly linked in a global criminal network. Should this material come to light, every last trace of influence Victor carried would be utterly destroyed.

And exactly how did you come to have all of this? Aidan asked, suspicion coloring his voice. As I checked last, you were working for him.

Emily fixed her eyes on his, obviously conveying guilt. "Here I was working for him. But I started recording things after I saw what he was doing and knew his travel range. If I had to, one day I reasoned maybe I could use it as leverage to go.

Aidan gave her comments some considerable thought. He could not argue the immense worth the items she had brought added. He cannot, however, also turn aside the past. Trust had been destroyed; her wounds were raw.

Why lately? He asked softly, his voice barely tinged with bitterness. "Why come to see me now, after everything?"

Emily swallowed, a flash of anguish on her cheeks. "Because I knew what I had done was wrong. Aidan, I was scared. I felt I could protect myself even if all I did was harm the ones who trusted me. She halted, her voice breaking only slightly. And you have quite free right to hate me. Still, I want to fix things. I only have this left to offer.

For a moment Aidan said nothing, the weight of her words sinking over him. He wanted her gone and hated her. Still, this had nothing to do with her, nor even with him. This worried taking Victor down and at last getting justice. And even if he tried to overlook it, he could see the honesty in her eyes—the regret difficult to fake.

At last he nodded gently. "Ok, Emily. We will make use of Intel.

Her face blushed with relief, but she straightened herself quickly. "There is a journalist I trust," she said. " Someone qualified to publish this story abroad. Should this stuff go public, Victor has nowhere to hide.

agreed with Aidan. Allow us to begin right now. We don't have much time.

They methodically combed over every file for hours, cross-referencing every name and account number to ensure no margin for mistake. Aidan helped Marcus set up a safe conference with the journalist.

As they were concluding, Emily turned in her chair and her eyes shot to the window. I have spotted someone trailing me for the last several days. I doubt Victor gave up on keeping an eye on.

Aidan's expression turned stiff. If they know you are with me, both of us run danger.

Marcus showed up in the room just then, his face drawn. " Outside sits a car parked. black automobile with windows tinted black. That's out there for the past hour.

Aidan closed his jaw. "We have to shift right now.

Reaching for the document, he shoved it inside a secure casing and pointed at Emily. You are starting with us.

Hurrying out the building's rear entrance, they rushed to a nearby safehouse Aidan had designated for such situations. They kept their pace and sometimes turned behind to make sure they were not being followed, even though the dark shadows stretched deep and black and the streets were only dimly lit.

Emily saw the black car slinking after them, headlights out, but as they neared the safehouse, she could clearly see men silhouetrically.

Her pulse pounding, she added, "They're still following us, desperately."

More firmly grabbing her arm, Aidan pulled her toward a side lane. His voice almost audible, he murmured, "Stay close."

Marcus guided the two of them as they traversed a maze of backstreets, dodging the car with purposeful turns and detours in search of a tiny alleyway. At last they got at the safehouse, a little flat on the outskirts of the city. As soon they came in, Aidan closed the door behind them and looked about the room for any signs of trespassing.

Still, the relief came only momentarily. The flat was in total disorder. Papers blanketed the floor, and the windows were just slightly open, draperies bordering the evening air. Aidan's heart fell as he saw the safehouse had been broken-through.

A red paint warning had been scrawled on the wall: "You cannot hide forever."

Emily's face turned white as she read the sentences, and the whole weight of Victor's influence dropped in. Aidan tightened his hands, anger bubbling beneath his composed exterior.

His voice low, he said, "He's trying to scare us." But it's not going to work. We also close enough to stop right now.

Emily nodded, but he sensed her eyes' horror. Notwithstanding all, she had risked her life to bring him this knowledge; so, Victor's reaction was a sobering reminder of the risk they were all running.

"We'll lay low for now," Aidan said, his voice strong. "Once we give the journalist this stuff, Victor's business will collapse. Still, until then we have to be ready for anything.

As the evening wore on preparing for the storm that was likely to strike Aidan and Emily tucked into the safehouse.