CHAPTER 23: THE VISITATION WARNING
CHAPTER 23: THE VISITATION WARNING
We needed answers from the only man who knew the internal layout of the Sterling family tree.
By noon the next day, we were back in the high-security visitation room at Stateville.
Preston looked different now. The prison environment had completely stripped away his corporate arrogance. His hair was completely shaved, his frame thin, his hands shackled to the cold steel table.
When he picked up the phone, his eyes didn't hold the old malice. Only a profound, desperate exhaustion.
"You shouldn't have involved yourselves with Helena," he muttered before I could even speak.
"Preston, did our mother know her?" I asked through the glass.
Preston let out a dry, rattling breath.
"Helena was the mastermind behind Project Horizon, Evy. Arthur was just the face of the company."
"She left the country in 2006 because she realized the federal task force was closing in. She let our father and Arthur take the risk while she managed the capital from the shadows."
Hannah leaned close to the glass. "She claims our father intentionally authorized the cartel executions, Preston. Is it true?"
Preston’s eyes filled with a sudden, genuine terror.
"He didn't know what he was signing, Hannah! But Helena forged the auxiliary logs to make it look like he did. If those files go public, Dad will spend the rest of his life in a maximum-security cell."
"He won't survive a real prison sentence," I said, my voice cracking.
Preston slammed his shackled hands against the steel table, the chains rattling violently.
"Then don't let her upload them! Helena doesn't want a negotiation, Evy. She’s already in Chicago."
"She’s cleaning the slate."
"And she’s going to start with the people who can identify her signature."
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