Girl, Forgotten (Andrea Oliver 2)

9

Andrea repeated her question. “What’s in the briefcase?”

Instead of responding, the judge’s gaze rested on Franklin Vaughn. There was no emotion on her face, no gesture of love between them. The man who had been her husband for almost half a century was going to be dead in a matter of hours. Esther herself was not going to be long behind him.

She told Andrea, “When I was given the news about my cancer, I attempted to put my affairs in order. Franklin had always managed that aspect of our lives. I assumed that the wills were in the safe along with all the financial documents. I was correct, but I had not anticipated that I would find this as well.”

Esther reached down, struggling to lift the briefcase from the floor. Andrea went around the bed to help her. The case was lighter than she expected. She lifted it with one hand onto the judge’s lap.

“Thank you.” Esther’s fingers rolled the combination. The locks clicked open.

Andrea was standing over her, so she could see inside. Sheafs of papers, a few manila envelopes, and an older-looking laptop with the power cord still attached.

“Franklin was always far more technically inclined than I.” Esther looked up at Andrea. “He recorded all of his conversations with Wexler. The Fontaine boy makes several appearances, too. There are audio recordings of the earlier meetings. Later, it appears that Franklin secreted a video camera in the bookcase so he could capture the negotiations. One in particular is very damning. They structured a land charity using Fontaine to hide a conservation easement that netted Wexler over three million dollars. The federal statute of limitations for conspiracy and continuing offenses begins not with the original act, but upon abandonment, withdrawal, or the accomplishment of the conspiracy’s objectives. The blackmail alone has lasted nearly four decades. The trick with fraud is to prove intent. The video recordings provide ample proof. You have them dead to rights.”

Andrea should have felt elated, but all she could summon was anger. This information had been available for decades. “Why didn’t Franklin—he could have—”

“Yes, Franklin could have exposed them years ago. He shares the legal blame, but the moral failure is entirely mine.” Esther’s lips pursed as she tried to collect herself. “I told myself that the difference of a few months would be inconsequential. Thanks to the death threats, Judith and Guinevere would be under twenty-four-hour protection. Bible would go to the literal ends of the earth to ensure their safety. I would reach the end of my life on my own terms. Wexler and Fontaine would be exposed after I was gone. No one else would be hurt. At least I told myself that, but I was wrong, wasn’t I?”

Andrea felt the lump come back into her throat. “Alice Poulsen.”

“Yes, Alice Poulsen.” Esther reached into the briefcase, but only to rest her hand on a thick manila envelope. She looked Andrea in the eye. “My cowardice cost another parent their child. I did not earn a peaceful death. I do not deserve it.”

Andrea watched her pull the envelope from the briefcase. The label was handwritten—

To be delivered to Leonard Bible upon my death.

Esther said, “This contains copies of all of the supporting documents for the original land transfer, the conservation easement and the charitable land trust. The laptop has all of the recordings, video and audio, as well as pertinent emails, wire transactions, bank account routing numbers and tax documents. You’ll find dates, times, locations, steps taken when they forced me to intervene in legal matters. I’ve included a summation on top outlining the case. Dean Wexler and Bernard Fontaine can be charged for tax evasion, tax fraud, wire fraud—countless other crimes. It’s all in here.”

Andrea was too stunned to take the envelope. Esther was literally offering everything they needed to stop Wexler and Nardo.

“As long as I am capable, the government will have my full cooperation.” Now that she had made up her mind, Esther seemed eager to get it over with. She returned the envelope to the briefcase and waited for Andrea to take it all away.

There was nothing more to be said.

Andrea’s hands had started to shake. She felt sweaty and cold at the same time. She clutched the briefcase to her chest. The weight was heavier this time. Alice Poulsen’s restless soul was inside. Star Bonaire’s shaky future. Esther Vaughn’s undeserved peaceful death.

The Marshals nodded to Andrea as she left Franklin Vaughn’s room. Only when she had reached the end of the corridor did Andrea let herself acknowledge what she was holding.

Evidence of Wexler and Nardo’s crimes.

Enough to put them in prison. Enough to shut down the farm.

The elation finally came. Her brain was dizzy with it. Adrenaline sharpened everything to a point. She was jogging as she turned the corner, her head swiveling in search of Bible. She saw him near the elevators talking to Mike. They were both leaning against the high counter of the nurses’ station. Bible cradled his bandaged hand. Compton was a few feet away typing on her phone.

“Andy?” Mike saw her first. “What’s wrong?”

Andrea could barely speak. Her hands almost slipped on the briefcase. She stumbled the last few feet to reach them.

“Andy?” Mike took the briefcase. “Are you okay?”

“I’m—” She had to stop to take a breath. “The judge wrote the death threats to herself.”

Compton looked up from her phone. Bible’s jaw was clenched, but he said nothing.

“She—” Andrea had to stop again. She took another breath. She placed her hand to her chest, coaxing her heart to slow. “The judge was being blackmailed by Wexler. For decades. Since Judith was a baby. Wexler told her that he was the father, but I don’t know. He could be lying. But it doesn’t matter because we’ve—we’ve got them. Both of them. Nardo was in on it, too.”

“Oliver, take me through this.” Compton had knelt on the floor with the briefcase so she could go through the contents. “What am I looking at here?”