Chapter 9 - The Shadow of Malibu
Z
Two weeks later.
The high-rise concrete and glass of Chicago felt miles away from the warm, salty breeze sweeping across the Malibu coast.
Caleb Miller stood on the expansive timber deck of the luxury oceanfront mansion that Arthur Vance had built six years prior—the very mansion Vanessa and Julian had dreamed of living in together after Arthur’s death.
The mansion was now empty, its expensive Italian furniture covered in white dust sheets, up for public auction by order of the court. Every single penny from the sale was slated to be funneled directly into the Arthur Vance Charitable Foundation, established to fund pediatric cardiac surgeries for underprivileged families across the country.
Harrison Forde walked out onto the deck, holding a mug of black coffee and a manila legal envelope.
“The auction closes tomorrow,” Forde said, leaning against the deck railing, watching the Pacific waves crash against the rocks below. “The mansion is going for $18.5 million. Bidding is fierce.”
“Good,” Caleb said softly, taking a breath of the fresh ocean air. “That will fund heart surgeries for over seven hundred children.”
Forde handed the manila envelope to Caleb. “This came from the Cook County District Attorney’s office this morning.”
Caleb opened the envelope and pulled out the legal plea agreement.
“Vanessa agreed to a plea deal,” Forde explained. “To avoid the death penalty or life without parole in a maximum-security state facility, she pled guilty to second-degree murder and grand embezzlement. She was sentenced to forty-five years at the Logan Correctional Center. No parole eligibility for thirty years.”
Caleb stared at the paper. Forty-five years. Vanessa Vance, who had dreamed of living in luxury on the coast, would spend the rest of her youth and middle age in an eight-by-ten concrete cell, eating cafeteria food and wearing orange scrubs.
“And Julian?” Caleb asked.
“Julian took a deal too,” Forde said with a cold smile. “He testified against Vanessa to reduce his federal wire fraud charges. He’s looking at eighteen years in federal prison. He’s currently serving his time at a medium-security facility in Terre Haute.”
Caleb took a deep breath, feeling a profound sense of closure wash over him. The storm was finally over. The evil that had poisoned Arthur Vance had been confronted, exposed, and systematically dismantled.
“How is Mia doing?” Forde asked, his tone softening noticeably.
Caleb couldn't help the massive, radiant smile that spread across his face. He pulled his smartphone from his pocket and showed Forde a photograph that had been taken the previous afternoon in Boston.
The photo showed a bright, smiling nine-year-old girl sitting up in a hospital bed, holding a giant teddy bear, her cheeks pink and full of life.
“The surgery was a complete success,” Caleb said, his voice thick with emotion. “The doctors in Boston said her new heart is strong. She’s coming home next week.”
Forde looked at the photo, then looked at Caleb, clapping a firm, heavy hand on the young man’s shoulder. “Arthur didn't just save his company through you, Caleb. He saved your family. And you gave him the justice he deserved.”
“I’m just glad I answered the call that night,” Caleb said quietly.
“So, what’s next for the sole trustee of the Vance Estate?” Forde asked, taking a sip of his coffee. “You have a seventy-five million dollar foundation to run. You can’t go back to working eighteen-hour orderly shifts at Chicago General.”
May you like
Caleb looked out over the endless ocean, the sun reflecting off the blue water like millions of scattered diamonds.
“No,” Caleb smiled, putting his phone back in his pocket. “I’m done with hospital shifts. But I’m not done helping people. We’re opening the first Mia Miller Pediatric Wing in Chicago next month. And I’m going to personally oversee every single dollar.”
