Page 38 of Cruel Dreams

“Then know this.” I push the screenshot Stella captured from Clayton’s email and risked her life to smuggle out of Black Enterprises.

His pallor turns an even uglier shade of grey. “This email is over five years old.”

“It is. It was sent the evening before my parents’ plane crash. My mother was mistakenly included, and the transcript supports the theory Clayton Black killed my mom and dad to hide the truth of his illegal activities. Of course,” I continue,friendliness lacing my voice, “I don’t have proof he’s still doing it, but in this instance, perhaps once a traitor, always a traitor.”

Banks clears his throat. “Then what do you want? Why am I here?”

“If you truly didn’t know what was on the voice recorder, you could possibly escape prosecution, but if you were actively helping Black keep his deals a secret, then you’re an accomplice. You’ll go to prison, and I wouldn’t be able to stop it—even if I wanted to.”

His eyes widen in alarm. He knows what happens to law enforcement officers who go to prison. “I didn’t. Black and my superior kept me in the dark.”

“You’ll have to convince a jury of that, but helping me may sway them in your favor.”

He leans forward, the thin thread of hope I’m offering him his only salvation. “What can I do?”

“Clayton Black is as dirty as they come. We have proof that to cover up his illegal deals he paid the pilot of that plane to crash and commit suicide in the process. Dig deep enough, and you’ll find the paper trail that links the pilot’s bank account to the Blacks. Investigate that deal,” I say, jabbing my finger at the email screenshot. “It’s over five years old, yes, but I’m sure you’ll find something. Then, if you’re still not satisfied with evidence of the type of people we’re dealing with, check into Ladies and Gentlemen and the business Ash conducts in his back rooms. If thatstilldoesn’t convince you to play for a different team, investigate Quiet Meadows, a care facility here in King’s Crossing. Ashton Black admitted he purchased the sanatorium five years ago. My sister was a patient there until recently, and I have proof she was abused under their care. Others may be, too. It will be a feather in your cap to shut it down. I can put you in contact with our family doctor who’s already been asking questions.”

He thins his lips in unhappiness.

Tough shit.

“And just so I’m clear, if you think you’re going to run to your supervisor, I’ve recorded our conversation. You’ve admitted you were an active participant in helping Black conceal evidence. Help me, and I’ll help you.”

“I’ll do what I can,” Banks murmurs in defeat, knowing I’ve won.

“I’m sure you will.” I place Mel’s business card on top of the CVR transcript. “This is the contact information of private investigator I’m working with. She’ll give you what we’ve found regarding the payoff the pilot’s family received. We weren’t able to get far—we didn’t have a warrant or authorization to access bank information. You’ll get much further than we did. And besides me recording this conversation, we’re distributing copies of this email screenshot to every news channel in King’s Crossing. Wewilltear down Black Enterprises. With or without you. Go down with his ship or grab the life vest I’m throwing to you.”

He stands and walks out the door. I feel kind of bad for him. Maybe he didn’t know what he was doing for Clayton Black, but I suspect he did. No one defies Clayton, and Banks was taking the easy way out. I can’t forget he treated me like a kid and lied to me for years, but I just handed him several ways to vindicate himself.

He’ll have to choose between his own wellbeing and future or what Clayton Black wants.

It doesn’t matter to me.

CHAPTER NINE

Stella

I’m nervous, though this is what I’ve been waiting for.

While I balanced the real set of books for Ladies and Gentlemen, I discovered exorbitant amounts of money were laundered through the club. Eventually it moved to offshore accounts, but the process took years. I always thought most of the cash came from his escort service. After all, if he could charge a million dollars a night for Zarah, there was no doubt he was raking in at least half that for the other girls, and I never knew how many women he had working for him. That was something he kept private, and it’s no wonder, but I never stopped thinking about what happened to the women he turned over. Where they went when he didn’t want them anymore.

That’s what we need to find out.

“You look good, Stella,” Mel says, securing the camera disk to my dress in her brightly lit bathroom.

She’s refreshed my hair color a couple of times now, my blonde roots showing just weeks after every dye job. My hair is growing out too, but she doesn’t cut it. Tonight, she pinned itinto a French twist, and I’m wearing a classy little black dress and heels. She changed out my tortoise shell frames for thick black ones, and I look like a trendy hipster on her way to a club after her barista shift downtown. I like it, but not enough to wear glasses for the fun of it.

Quinn’s beautiful in a blood red dress and nude pumps, and Mel paints matching lipstick to her lips. Earlier this week, Mel cut her hair. Longer on one side, shaved on the other, revealing an ear full of tiny diamond studs. Black nail polish on her fingers and toes. Zane calls her Goth girl, and I’m not amused when he does it. Quinn had a difficult childhood just as I did, only she didn’t handle it as well as I have. She didn’t have a Maryanne on her side. Thinking of my dead foster mom brings tears to my eyes, and I push back the memories. I don’t want Mel mad she has to reapply my mascara.

She walks us through the night the way she does every time she has to let one of us out of her sight. She’s turned into a good friend and I appreciate the concern, but tonight there isn’t much to walk through. Nathalie will be wired too, because if anyone can get information at the club, it will be her. Quinn and I are along for the ride, extra sets of eyes and ears.

Nathalie’s dressing at the penthouse, and after Douglas attaches her camera to her dress, he’s going to drop her off. We’re supposed to meet her outside Ladies and Gentlemen at ten.

Zane leans against the doorjamb watching Mel fuss. He hates letting me go just as much as she does, but he knows it’s necessary. He came back to the hotel on an adrenaline high after his meeting with Special Agent Banks. People kicked him around for so long and I love seeing him pumped. It won’t bring his parents back, but I can understand that finally being able to do something and not being treated like someone’s puppetis an exhilarating feeling. He’s fighting back, and he’s stronger because of it.

Quinn and I are ready, and Zane stops me in the hallway outside Mel’s room. She ordered a car, and it will be here in a few minutes.

“I guess I don’t have to ask you to be careful,” he murmurs, his hand wrapped around my arm.

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