Chapter 16 - The Prison Visit
The maximum-security women's facility was a terrifying labyrinth of reinforced concrete, razor wire, and blinding security lights. Clara walked through the heavy metal detectors, her heart pounding a frantic rhythm as the heavy steel doors slammed loudly behind her.
She was led into a bleak, soundproof visitation booth divided by a thick pane of bulletproof glass. Clara picked up the heavy black telephone receiver and waited in complete, tense silence.
A door on the opposite side opened, and Samantha was escorted into the booth by a massive, armed guard. She looked entirely different from the glamorous, arrogant mistress she once was. Her expensive blonde hair was a matted mess, her face was gaunt, and the hideous orange jumpsuit hung loosely on her thin frame.
Samantha sat down and picked up her receiver, a bitter, twisted smile crossing her pale lips.
"Look at us, Clara," Samantha sneered, though the arrogance in her voice was completely broken. "The devoted wife and the wicked mistress, entirely destroyed by the same greedy, pathetic man."
Clara did not blink. She leaned closely toward the thick glass, her eyes burning with fierce, cold intensity. "I am not here to reminisce about your miserable life, Samantha. Where is the ledger?"
Samantha chuckled darkly, leaning back in her uncomfortable metal chair. "Gabriel is a complete coward, but he is a paranoid coward. When he realized Victoria Vance was infinitely more dangerous than him, he hired a private investigator to hack her servers. He printed the entire blackmail ledger and hid it in the one place Victoria would absolutely never look."
"Tell me where it is," Clara demanded firmly.
"Not until we negotiate my price," Samantha countered sharply. "I am currently housed in a block with violent cartel enforcers who want to kill me because Gabriel lost their trust fund money. I will not survive the month. I want a guaranteed transfer to a minimum-security, white-collar facility. Have your lawyer make it happen, or you will never see your baby again."
Clara stared into the eyes of the woman who had tried to drug her pregnant body. Every instinct screamed to walk away and let Samantha rot. But she thought of her beautiful baby boy trapped in Victoria’s cold, loveless mansion, and she nodded slowly.
"Mr. Hayes will file the transfer petition this afternoon," Clara promised coldly. "Now, give me the location."
Samantha leaned entirely forward until her breath fogged the bulletproof glass.
"Victoria Vance hosts an exclusive, highly secure charity gala at the Vance Tower every single year," Samantha whispered rapidly. "Gabriel rented a private security deposit box inside the Vance Tower's own subterranean vault, using a fake corporate shell name. The ledger is sitting directly beneath Victoria's feet, and she doesn't even know it."
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Clara’s blood ran entirely cold. The Vance Tower was a massive, impenetrable fortress in the center of the city. Breaking into its private vault was considered mathematically impossible for the most skilled criminals, let alone a terrified mother.
"The gala is tomorrow night," Samantha added with a cruel, mocking grin. "The vault security drops to half capacity during the party to accommodate the wealthy guests storing their jewelry. It is your only window, Clara. Good luck breaking into a billionaire's castle."
