Chapter 4 - UNEXCEPTED ALLIES
By nightfall, the winter storm had returned with full force, howling against the eaves. The house was locked down, with private security guards—hired by Marcus through a reputable agency—patrolling the perimeter of the property.
At 8:00 p.m., headlights cut through the swirling snow in the driveway. A non-descript silver sedan parked near the garage. A tall woman wrapped in a heavy wool coat stepped out, carrying a thick leather binder under her arm.
When I opened the door, I recognized her instantly: Julianne Mercer, the chief investigative reporter for the State Gazette. Five years ago, my team had fed Julianne the insider evidence that brought down the corrupt Mayor’s office.
"Evelyn," Julianne said, stepping inside and stamping the snow from her boots. "When Marcus called and said you were back in action, I didn't believe him."
"Desperate times, Julianne," I said, leading her into the warm kitchen. "Thank you for coming out in this weather."
"For you? I’d drive through a hurricane," Julianne replied, setting her binder on the table. She looked over at Clara, who offered a tentative smile from the sofa. Julianne’s expression softened with genuine sympathy. "Hello, Clara. I’m so sorry for what you’ve been through."
"Julianne has something we need," I explained to Clara as I poured three cups of black coffee. "Tell her what you found, Julianne."
Julianne opened her binder, revealing pages of court documents, property deeds, and photos. "Beckett Hale isn't a isolated monster, Clara. He’s a serial predator with a pattern. Four years before he met you, he was engaged to a woman named Samantha Reed in Chicago."
Clara blinked in surprise. "He never mentioned anyone named Samantha. He told me I was his first real love."
"Of course he did," Julianne said bitterly. "Samantha was the daughter of a wealthy logistics magnate. Within eighteen months of their engagement, Samantha's family business was restructured, with thirty percent of its stock transferred to a shell company controlled by the Hales. Shortly after, Samantha suffered a sudden 'psychiatric breakdown' and checked into a private facility in Illinois. She signed over her power of attorney to Beckett before she disappeared from public life."
A chill ran down my spine. The methodology was identical. A systematic execution of financial theft disguised as marital tragedy.
"Where is Samantha now?" I asked.
"She’s living in a small town in Michigan," Julianne said, pulling out a printout of a telephone record. "It took me two days to track her down. She was terrified to talk at first. The Hales paid her off with a structured settlement that includes a strict gag order. If she speaks out, she loses her housing and faces bankrupting lawsuits."
"A gag order doesn't apply to a federal criminal subpoena," I noted, my eyes narrowing. "If Samantha testifies that Beckett used the exact same drugging and coercion tactics on her, his defense of 'spousal mental illness' collapses completely."
"Can we contact her?" Clara asked, her voice growing stronger. "If she knows she’s not alone... if she knows we’re fighting back?"
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"I tried," Julianne admitted. "She’s scared, Clara. She thinks the Hales are untouchable."
I reached across the table and closed Julianne's binder. "She thinks that because no one has ever fought them with the full weight of the law before. Clara, pack a bag. Tomorrow morning, we're taking a drive to Michigan."
