Page 98 of His Wall

"You have been carrying that for three years."

"Yes."

He lifted his head. His eyes were tired in a way I hadn’t seen in five years.

"We could have handled this together, Jules. Three years ago. Two months ago. Last week. You built this firm with Nolan and me, and then you decided to save it alone." He pushed off the counter. "That is not a partnership. That is the same arrogance that let Conrad in in the first place."

I took it.

"I know."

"Do you?"

"I know, Dec."

Nolan had not said anything.

He uncrossed his arms. He took a step away from the counter. He put one hand flat on the island.

"Pour him a coffee, Dec."

Declan looked at him. He poured me a coffee. He set it in front of me.

"Talk to us."

I talked.

The fifteenth match. The Petrov trial. The payment eight days ago. The fact that Conrad was not winding down — Conrad was running the operation while we were sitting in safehouses and conference rooms talking about voluntary disclosure.

"He's still in the city," Nolan said.

"He's still in the city."

"And we still don't know how deep he is in our firm."

"We don't."

Declan rubbed both hands down his face.

"Voluntary disclosure on the founding-era irregularities first. We file by Thursday. Counsel is already drafting. We make ourselves the cooperator."

"Agreed."

"Personnel audit on every hire in the last twenty-four months. Not twelve. Twenty-four. Every credential, every access log, every system touch. If he has somebody in the system, we’ll find them."

"Agreed."

Nolan picked up his coffee.

"We need the Bureau."

"Leah can coordinate with Harlow," I said. "She'll handle the channel."

"Good."

Declan looked at me.

"Anything else, Jules."