“Detective,” I said, not taking my eyes off my father. “Cancel his lawyer’s private session. I want to go in there. Arrange one final meeting.”

Ortiz looked at me, a fierce glint of respect in her eyes. “You got it. Let’s burn him down.”

Chapter 6: The Final Audit

The heavy metal door of Interrogation Room 3 groaned open.

My father looked up, instantly arranging his features into a mask of tragic paternal concern. He expected a frightened, bandaged daughter coming to seek his guidance.

Instead, I walked in wearing a sharp, tailored navy-blue suit. My posture was perfectly straight, ignoring the screaming protest of my healing ribs. I didn’t look like a victim.

I looked exactly like my mother.

I sat down across the metal table from him. I didn’t speak. I simply reached into my pocket and placed Mom’s silver flash drive squarely in the center of the table.