"If what you say about your own self-reflection is true, there is something you should know before we begin," I tell him. "I have Ivy's hand in marriage, which means I can do whatever I like to her. And if that is still not enough to motivate you, I think it would benefit you to know that I am also taking over guardianship of Eva. She is at my home. Under my control. I want you to think carefully about that before you consider lying to me."
"You have Eva too?" He swallows, terror streaking through his eyes. "Whatever it is you think I've done, Santiago—"
"Tell me about the sector you and Abel had a hand in excommunicating from IVI."
"The sector?" he repeats, confused. "What does that have to do with anything?"
"I'm asking the questions, Eli. I have a list of their names I can give you, should you require a reminder. There are notes in The Tribunal's files. A history. You can't deny it."
He sighs, shaking his head. "I'm not denying it. I just don't see what that has to do with anything. But if you want to know I will tell you."
"I'm waiting." I lean back and watch him closely, searching his face for any sign of dishonesty.
"They were involved in shady dealings. Something the Society was not aware of. I only stumbled upon it myself, by accident. I had access to bank accounts in their names. One of the member's wives asked me to do some bookkeeping. She wasn't aware of her husband's activities. The other accounts were those I would add the normal monthly deposits to. When I started to look through the first account, something caught my attention. There was another monthly deposit coming through from an offshore bank account that wasn’t noted in his Society income. Upon further investigation, I realized he wasn’t the only one receiving these payments. It was a lot to dig through, and I was only one person, so I had Abel start assisting me. After a while, we began to uncover an entire sector harboring income not affiliated with IVI. They were prominent members, their lineage within the Society had been embedded for generations. I was shocked, and still in disbelief because honestly, they really hadn't covered their tracks very well. But I knew I needed further proof."
"So, you sent Abel to investigate?”
"Yes," he admits. "He is good at that sort of thing, and he wanted to prove himself useful. I felt it was a good opportunity. And he did uncover a great deal of information on their back door dealings. We took all of the evidence to The Tribunal, and they felt the only choice was to excommunicate them."
"It couldn't have been that easy," I remark.
"Well, no," he concedes. "There was a consensus that they might try to enact revenge, but The Councilors have men keeping a close eye on them."
I'm waiting for him to tell me that they were somehow possibly involved in the explosion. Now would be the perfect time for him to plant that seed in my mind and draw attention away from himself. But Eli doesn't mention it, which I find odd.
"Have they made any attempts to harm IVI?" I ask.
"Honestly, I couldn't tell you," he says. "After the initial discussions took place with The Tribunal, I was cut out. Deemed too unimportant to be involved any further in the matter, given my position. They assured me it was handled and rewarded me generously for bringing it to their attention, and that was that."
"I see."
My jaw hardens as I consider that I've hit another dead end. While I don't necessarily believe Eli without a doubt, what he's telling me makes sense. The Tribunal would not have involved him any further in the matter than necessary.
"It sounds as if you have made some enemies within the organization,” I point out. “Perhaps what you are trying to suggest, without saying as much, is that it was one of them who poisoned you?"
"Poisoned me?" His lips set into a grim line, and he shakes his head in disbelief before something seems to occur to him. "Are you telling me I was poisoned?"
"Yes. That is exactly what I'm telling you. Your bloodwork confirmed it."
I allow him a moment for this information to really settle over him, and as it does, I realize he's coming to some sort of silent conclusion as he processes it. At first, he appears angry, and then confused, and then... hurt.
"You know who it is, don't you?"
He shakes his head. "I... no, I don't know for certain."
"Spit it out, Eli. I saw the anguish in your eyes. You think it's someone close to you. Perhaps even your own son."
"No," he declares. "I don't believe that."
"It wouldn't be a stretch to consider." I examine him as I deliver the next blow. "He poisoned me as well."
"What?" His eyes snap to mine, and his anguish morphs to fear.
Eli understands what this means. I don't even have to tell him. But I will.
"He also kidnapped my wife and attempted to abort our baby. There are hundreds of Society hired men out combing the streets for him as we speak. His time on this earth is coming to an end, Eli."
"No." He looks at me pleadingly. "Please, let me talk to him. There has to be something I can do to make this right—"
"Come clean," I suggest. "And perhaps I will consider not bringing forward the evidence of his attempt on my life to The Tribunal."
"You haven't yet?" He searches my face, his love for his son foolishly overshadowing everything else I've just told him.
"No, I haven't yet. But there is still time.”
"What do you want to know?" he asks. "Come clean about what?"
"Why were all those files in your ex-wife's house? Dossiers on me, other members of IVI. All the members who were killed in the explosion…"
I want to believe the confusion on his face is real. That it can't be faked. But it also angers me
