Chapter 8 - The Interrogation
The sun began to rise over the smoldering ashes of my childhood home.
I sat in the sterile interrogation room of the federal field office holding a cup of terrible coffee.
Gladys sat across the metal table, refusing to make eye contact with me or the federal agents.
"We have the ledgers, Gladys, so there is no point in lying anymore," I said calmly.
She scoffed and crossed her arms, acting as if she were completely above the law.
"Those ledgers are circumstantial, and my lawyers will tear them apart in court," she sneered confidently.
I opened the classified folder and slid a large glossy photograph across the table.
The picture showed Gladys sitting in a fancy restaurant with a known international money launderer.
"We decrypted the hard drive you tried to burn," I revealed softly.
"It turns out you are not just a simple thief, you are moving money for a major criminal syndicate," I stated.
Gladys finally lost her arrogant composure, and her face turned the color of ash.
"If I talk, those people will kill me before I even make it to trial," she whispered in absolute terror.
"You are going to a maximum security federal prison, so you will be safe if you cooperate," I promised.
She looked at the photograph again and slowly nodded her head in defeat.
"The Mayor helped me forge the city permits, and Miller provided the police cover," she confessed.
I let the federal agents take over the formal confession and walked out of the cold room.
The Navy officer was waiting for me in the hallway with a small, gentle smile.
"Your father just woke up at the hospital, and the doctors say the poison is leaving his system," he informed me.
A massive weight lifted off my shoulders, and I finally felt like I could breathe again.
"Thank you, Admiral, for believing in me and showing up tonight," I said sincerely.
He returned my salute perfectly and told me he was honored to serve with me.
May you like
I left the federal building and drove straight to the local county hospital.
It was finally time to see my father and tell him the long nightmare was over.
