Chapter 10 - The Whistleblower’s LedgerClara reached inside the frayed hem of her hospital gown, where a seam had been split and restitched with crude wire. She drew out a small, water-damaged plastic sleeve containing a micro-SD card.
"I managed to hide this during the first raid on our apartment in Princeton," she said. "It contains the original bank logs, the land-deed falsifications, and the wire transfers directly to Sterling’s offshore shell accounts."
Julian held the tiny sliver of plastic. It felt weightless, yet it held enough destructive power to level an empire.
"We need a secure terminal," Julian said. "The media won't touch this without verification; Sterling owns stakes in three major networks. We need the Federal Department of Justice."
"There is an attorney," Bennett’s voice suddenly spoke from the shadows of the doorway.
Julian leaped to his feet, stepping defensively before Clara. But Bennett raised both empty hands, his left forearm wrapped tightly in a bloody rag. He leaned against the weathered doorframe, his face gray with exhaustion.
"Marcus didn't make it," Bennett said bluntly. "He bought us time. Sterling’s men are scouring the riverbanks, but they don't know about this spur. My brother-in-law is an assistant federal prosecutor in Newark. He’s been trying to build a racketeering case against Sterling’s consortium for five years."
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Julian slowly lowered his guard, walking over to offer Bennett a supporting arm. "Why come back for us?"
Bennett looked past Julian to Clara, who was watching him with solemn understanding. "Because I don't want to die a jailer," Bennett said simply.
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