"That''s a relief," Reese said, her smile growing a little brighter.


    Now, with Dylon''s market maniption on record, and charges of embezzlement and fraud stacked on top, he was looking at years behind bars. Ten years might even be the bare minimum.


    "Oh, and Detective Sanchez, there''s something else I need to give you." Her voice turned serious. "It''s about Grace paying Alex to cause the ident that killed my mother."


    She turned, opened her safe, and pulled out a USB drive. She handed it to Roman, meeting his eyes. "This holds evidence that Bailey and Nathaniel trafficked human organs twenty years ago. There are ount books, partnership agreements, and a list of everyone involved. I think my mother must have discovered something, and that''s why Grace had her killed."


    Roman immediately understood how serious this was and plugged the drive into hisptop.


    The screen lit up with the words "The Voyager Project." Every transaction, every profit-sharing detail,id bare for anyone to see.


    "Was this evidence obtained legally?" Roman asked, looking up at her, his eyes sharp and searching.


    "I got it from the old Meyer family housest night," Reese said quietly. Her voice caught as she remembered her mother. "Detective, please help me find out who else was involved."


    "I will," Roman promised, putting the USB drive away carefully. "But Ms. Meyer, if anything elsees up, you have to tell me right away. Don''t take risks like this again."


    "I promise," Reese nodded. For the first time in a long while, she felt some of the heaviness in her chest begin to ease. "Thank you, Detective Sanchez."


    When Roman and his team left, Reese leaned back in her chair, closed her eyes, and let out a long, shaky breath.


    At the same time, over at Ratcliff Global, Bailey sat in the meeting room, grinning as he looked at the new agreement he''d just signed with Joseph.


    Sure, Joseph had taken advantage of the situation and forced him to make some big concessions, but as long as he secured the de partnership, it was all worth


    it.


    Besides, Bailey had just gotten word that the police had already shown up at Ramos Corporation. Reese must realize that his threats weren''t empty If she wanted to protect herpany, she''d be forced to withdraw theint against Grace. If she didn''t, he''d just hand over the rest of the evidence to the police, and Ramos Corporation''s reputation would bepletely ruined.


    Once Reese dropped the charges, de would be his.


    "Pleasure working with you, Joseph," Bailey said, sliding the agreement across


    the table. His eyes sparkled with barely contained greed. "So, how soon can I get the de partnership?"


    Joseph picked up the agreement, tracing his finger over his signature, maybe a little too casually. There was a hint of mockery in his eyes. "Don''t worry, Mr. Meyer. I''ll have the project lead contact you as soon as possible."


    Joseph had already gotten the concessions he wanted from the Meyer family. It was a clean win, and he''d look great in front of the board The thing was, the core technology'' and all the real authority over de were still in Sebastian''s hands. Bailey would never get anything real out of it.


    This blow would hurt the Meyer family, and Reese was sure to me Sebastian. With Matthew sick, the chairman''s seat at Ratcliff Global would be his for the taking.


    "I''ll be waiting for your good news, Mr. Ratcliff," Bailey said, getting up to shake Joseph''s hand.


    After leaving Ratcliff Tower, Bailey slid into the back seat of his car, feeling on top of the world. He called his assistant, Dous. "Spread the word. Start building the de operating system tform. Iwant all the people and resources we need and I want them now."


    The car pulled into the underground garage at Vista Tech. Bailey walked into his


    office, only to see two people standing by the windows.


    Sofia was wearing a in white dress. She looked so much thinner, her once- round cheeks hollow, dark circles visible under her eyes.


    "Dad," she said, turning to face him. Her voice was scratchy.


    Bailey stopped in his tracks, an ache of worry rushing through him. “Sofia? When did you get back? Why are you so thin?" He stepped forward, wanting to ruffle her hair like he used to, but as he looked at her face, so much like Grace''s, his hand froze in midair.