Gene flinched.“Wasn’t always called that,” Gene said.“Not officially.Not where anyone could hear.It started as favors.Influence.Families protecting what they built.My father believed the city was too valuable to leave in the hands of people who didn’t understand power.”
Goldie’s voice was quiet.“So they stole it.”
Gene looked at her.“Yes.”
No defense or excuse.Just yes.
Gene walked slowly to the leather chair and sank into it like standing had finally taken too much effort.He rested his elbows on his knees and looked at the floor.“They bought buildings.Backed politicians.Buried zoning changes.Approved projects.Denied others.They told themselves it was stability.”He laughed once, without humor.“Madison would grow, but only in the right direction.With the right people holding the strings.”
Goldie took half a step forward, and I moved with her.Her eyes were locked on Gene.“You signed the permits.”
Gene nodded.“I was young when it started.Younger than I want to admit.My father told me I was preserving something.Carrying on a responsibility.”His gaze lifted to hers.“He told me the signatures were harmless.”
“They weren’t,” she said.
“No.”
He looked down at his hands.“They never are.”
Twister crossed his arms.“You weren’t employed by the city.”
Gene looked up.“No.”
“Then how the hell did your signature get accepted?”
Gene smiled faintly.“Because the city was never as clean as it wanted people to believe.”
Goldie’s shoulders stiffened.
Gene saw it.“I’m sorry.”
She stared at him.“For what?”
“For letting you believe paperwork meant truth.”
That landed.I felt it hit her.
Goldie had believed in rules.In records.In signatures and systems and forms.Gene had just told her those systems had been rotten longer than she’d been alive.
“You helped them erase the tunnel,” she said.
Gene looked away.“Yes.”
“What’s down there?”
He didn’t answer.
Twister stepped closer.“Gene.”
Gene closed his eyes.“I can’t.”
Hodge moved for the first time.“Wrong answer.”
Gene opened his eyes and looked at him.“No.It’s the only answer that might keep you alive for another day.”
“The Ledger already tried killing us,” Swift said.
Gene’s expression darkened.“If they wanted you dead, all of you would be dead.”
