Chapter 13 - Linda’s Last Bargain
Federal agents froze Northstar’s accounts.
The court removed Linda from company control.
Richard publicly confirmed Rebecca’s innocence and declared every transfer made under her name fraudulent.
For the first time, the case seemed to turn completely.
Then Linda released a video online.
She stood in front of a plain gray wall.
“I acted to protect my family from Rebecca Grant, a manipulative woman who seduced both my son and my husband’s secret child.”
She displayed the forged messages between Rebecca and Daniel.
Despite the evidence against her, thousands of people believed the scandal.
Linda understood that facts moved slowly.
Humiliation moved fast.
She then announced she possessed proof that Richard had ordered the pension theft himself.
“If I am harmed or arrested,” she said, “the evidence will be released.”
Richard watched the video from his hospital bed.
“She’s lying.”
“Could she have documents?” Sarah asked.
“She kept copies of everything.”
Linda contacted Rebecca privately.
She offered a bargain.
Rebecca would withdraw from the trust, refuse to testify, and publicly blame Trevor for acting alone.
In exchange, Linda would surrender and release evidence clearing Richard of the pension scheme.
Rebecca agreed to meet under police supervision.
Linda chose a small church where Caroline had once volunteered.
She entered through the side door wearing black.
No weapon was visible.
Rebecca sat in the front pew.
“You look tired,” Linda said.
“I’m carrying a child while your family tries to kill me.”
Linda placed a flash drive on the pew.
“This clears Richard.”
“And destroys Trevor?”
“Trevor is finished.”
“You helped create him.”
“I protected my son.”
“You protected yourself.”
Linda’s eyes hardened.
Rebecca realized Trevor had inherited more than cruelty.
He inherited Linda’s inability to accept blame.
“What happened to Caroline?” Rebecca asked.
Linda looked toward the church altar.
“She believed morality mattered more than blood.”
“So you let her drown.”
“I chose the child who could continue the family.”
Rebecca’s hidden microphone captured the confession.
Linda noticed the outline beneath her sweatshirt.
She smiled faintly.
“You always were easier to read than Trevor believed.”
She pulled a small remote from her pocket.
Police moved outside.
Linda pressed a button.
An explosion shook the church parking lot.
Smoke rose beyond the stained-glass windows.
The officers guarding the exits turned toward the blast.
Linda grabbed Rebecca by the hair and pressed a blade against her throat.
“You will sign.”
Rebecca remained still.
“Even if I do, Richard can cancel it.”
“Richard will not survive the night.”
Linda had planted a second attacker at the hospital.
Rebecca’s fear sharpened into focus.
She looked at the flash drive.
“You need me alive long enough to sign.”
“For another five minutes.”
Linda forced her toward the side room.
Then the church bell rang above them.
Once.
Twice.
Linda froze.
Daniel’s voice came through the sanctuary speaker.
“Step away from her.”
He had entered through the bell tower passage Caroline used as a teenager.
Linda turned.
Rebecca drove her elbow into Linda’s ribs.
The blade fell.
Police stormed the church.
Linda reached for the remote again.
Daniel kicked it away.
Officers forced her to the floor.
Detective Ruiz’s radio crackled.
The attacker at Richard’s hospital had been captured.
Linda screamed as she was handcuffed.
“You have no idea what that baby will become!”
Rebecca looked down at her.
“My child will become someone who knows people are not possessions.”
The flash drive was real.
It cleared Richard and proved Linda personally authorized the pension transfers.
But one file contained a list of judges, doctors, and officials paid by Northstar.
At the top was a familiar name.
May you like
Judge Marcus Ellison.
👉 The judge who had repeatedly protected Rebecca appeared on Linda’s payment list, and no one knew whether his help had been justice or part of a deeper plan.
