Chapter 4 - What Goliath Dug Up
Walter looked confused.
"What is he talking about?"
Victor laughed.
"Ask the kid."
Everyone turned toward Eli.
He swallowed.
"I didn't tell Grandpa."
"Tell me what?" Walter demanded.
Eli reached into his backpack.
He pulled out a small black object wrapped in cloth.
Gabriel cursed.
It was a phone.
Not mine.
I recognized it immediately.
One of the men who buried me had dropped it.
"Where did you find that?"
"Near the hole."
"Did you turn it on?"
Eli nodded.
"There was a video."
Walter closed his eyes.
"Eli."
"I thought it might show who hurt Mister Roman."
Gabriel took the phone.
"Password?"
"It didn't need one."
He opened the gallery.
A video played.
Damian appeared on screen.
Clear face.
Clear voice.
He was speaking to Victor and the four kidnappers.
"When Roman is confirmed dead, the board transfers control to me. Hale gets five million. Nobody touches the Manhattan accounts until I authorize it."
Gabriel stared at me.
"This is enough."
"For what?"
"Everything."
Victor's confidence vanished.
The video continued.
Damian described the kidnapping.
The burial.
The false evidence.
Names.
Payments.
Accounts.
It wasn't merely proof of attempted murder.
It was a map of his entire conspiracy.
Eli had unknowingly dug up the one thing Damian could not afford to leave behind.
Walter stared at his grandson.
"That's why they're after you."
Eli whispered, "I'm sorry."
"No."
I knelt in front of him.
"You did nothing wrong."
"But—"
"You found evidence."
"I should've told someone."
"You just did."
Gabriel copied the files.
I turned to Victor.
"Damian isn't coming for Eli."
Victor smiled weakly.
"Of course he is."
"No."
I finally understood.
"He's coming for the phone."
Victor said nothing.
I looked at Gabriel.
"Send Damian a message."
"What message?"
"Tell him I destroyed every copy."
Gabriel understood.
"And he'll believe it?"
"No."
"Then what's the point?"
"He'll come verify."
Walter stared at me.
"You're using yourself as bait."
"Yes."
"What about us?"
"You're leaving."
Eli immediately protested.
"No."
I looked at him.
"That wasn't a request."
"You said you'd protect me."
"I am."
"You'll get hurt."
"Occupational hazard."
"Mister Roman—"
"Eli."
He crossed his arms.
"I dug you out once. I'm not doing it again."
Gabriel laughed.
I glared.
He stopped.
Walter put his hand on Eli's shoulder.
"Roman's right."
Eli looked betrayed.
"We go."
"Grandpa—"
"We go."
I removed a ring from my finger.
Heavy silver.
A black stone engraved with my family crest.
I gave it to Eli.
"What's this?"
"Insurance."
"Against what?"
"Me dying."
His eyes widened.
"I'm kidding."
Walter muttered, "Terrible joke."
I continued.
"If anyone ever tells you I forgot what you did, show them that."
Eli closed his hand around the ring.
"What happens?"
"They help you."
"For how long?"
"For the rest of your life."
Eli stared at me.
"I don't want your money."
"I know."
"Then why?"
"Because you saved me when you thought I was nobody."
I stood.
"That's the kind of debt money can't repay."
Goliath suddenly barked.
Gabriel's radio crackled.
"Movement at the south perimeter."
He looked at me.
"Vehicles."
"How many?"
"Seven."
Walter grabbed Eli.
I looked through the window.
Headlights appeared between the trees.
May you like
Damian had arrived.
---
