Marcus wanted to meet at Whitmore Tower.
Forty-third floor.
Boardroom.
At sunrise.
"He thinks we're stupid," Ethan said.
"No," Nora replied. "He thinks we're desperate."
"And are we?"
"Yes."
Ethan looked at her.
Nora slipped the memory card into her pocket.
"But desperate people can still make backups."
She had already sent copies to three places.
One to an investigative journalist.
One to an attorney unconnected to the Whitmores.
And one scheduled email that would automatically send to federal investigators unless she cancelled it within twelve hours.
For once, technology belonged to the waitress.
Not the billionaires.
Marcus stood alone when they entered the boardroom.
Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the city.
"You brought Ethan."
"You expected me not to?"
Marcus smiled.
"I expected Rebecca's daughter to be smarter."
Nora stepped forward.
"My mother trusted you."
"No. Your mother feared me."
"You killed her."
Marcus looked almost disappointed.
"Victor killed her."
Ethan stiffened.
Marcus continued.
"I told him to frighten her. He panicked."
"And you covered it up."
"Yes."
The ease of the answer made Nora sick.
Marcus walked toward the windows.
"Do you know what your mother's problem was? She believed evidence mattered."
"It does."
"Only if somebody powerful wants to hear it."
Ethan laughed softly.
"You really believe that?"
Marcus turned.
"I built half your father's empire while Adrian took credit. I protected him through lawsuits, hostile takeovers, government investigations. I made problems disappear."
"And stole millions while doing it."
"Compensation."
Nora stared at him.
"And tonight?"
Marcus looked at her.
"Tonight was supposed to solve several problems at once."
"Adrian dies before changing the trust," Ethan said. "Celeste inherits. Victor controls her."
"And you?"
Marcus smiled.
"I control Victor."
There it was.
The real hierarchy.
Celeste had been a pawn.
Victor had thought he was a partner.
Marcus had been running everything.
Nora took one step closer.
"You made Celeste poison him."
"I gave Victor a problem. Victor chose his solution."
"And the water?"
Marcus's smile faded.
"That was unfortunate improvisation."
Ethan reached for his phone.
Marcus shook his head.
"I wouldn't."
Two men entered behind them.
Armed.
Nora's heart kicked.
Marcus held out his hand.
"The memory card."
Nora removed it from her pocket.
Ethan looked at her.
"Nora."
"It's okay."
She placed it on the table.
Marcus picked it up.
Then Nora smiled.
"You really do have the same problem my mother wrote about."
Marcus frowned.
"You think evidence only matters when powerful people control it."
His expression changed.
Nora continued.
"So I stopped giving it to powerful people."
Marcus looked toward the laptop.
"What did you do?"
"Everything is already out."
His face went white.
Ethan's phone vibrated.
Then Marcus's.
Then one of the armed men's.
News alerts.
Emails.
Messages.
The files were spreading.
Marcus stared at Nora.
"You stupid girl."
"No."
The boardroom doors opened.
Federal agents entered.
Nora looked directly at him.
"Just the waitress."
