Chapter 9 - The Reckoning of Larkin Row
Six months later, the spring sun shone brightly over Cold Water Bend and Larkin Row.
The heavy construction equipment was still there, but the banners hanging from the scaffolding didn't say RALDI LUXURY CONDOS. They read: MARY MERCER COMMUNITY HOUSING & LITERACY CENTER.
Julian Raldi and Marco had both been sentenced to twenty-five years in federal prison without the possibility of parole. The corrupt city council members had been forced to resign, triggering a massive wave of political reform across the state.
Delaney stood on the balcony of the newly constructed third-floor library wing, looking out over the river.
She wore a simple, elegant dark green sweater and jeans—no longer hiding behind dirty coats, no longer ducking into dark alleys to escape the rain. She was the official Trustee of the Mercer Foundation, overseeing a thirty-million-dollar community fund.
The door behind her opened softly.
Vincent walked out onto the balcony, holding two paper cups of hot coffee. He wore a simple grey suit without a tie, looking relaxed and younger than he had six months ago.
He handed a cup to her. "The first family moves into the East Wing tomorrow morning."
Delaney took a sip, looking at the bright red brick buildings rising proudly against the blue sky. "My mother would have loved this view."
"She would have been proud of you, Delaney," Vincent said quietly, leaning his elbows against the balcony railing beside her. "The entire city is talking about what you did."
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"I just used a flare gun and told the truth," Delaney said with a small smile.
"You gave a broken city a reason to believe in justice again," Vincent corrected her softly. "That's far more than a flare gun."
