THE TOWERS FAMILY SAGA
        EPISODE 28
James sat at his new
desk, the small cactus
Robert gave him sitting in
a shaft of light. His
phone buzzed on the desk.
It was a private number.
'This is James,' he said,
his voice professional.
'James, it's Robert. I
need the archived files
from the ninety-eight
acquisition.' There was a
long, painful pause on
the other end. 'Robert, I
don't work for you
anymore. Those files
belong to the owners.'
'James, they found the
drums at the Rim. They're
coming for us both.'
James closed his eyes and
leaned back in his chair.
He had found those
records years ago and
stayed silent. 'I can't
help you break the law
again, Robert.' 'I'm not
asking you to break it,
James,' Robert whispered.
'I'm asking you to help
me confess to it.' James
looked at the cactus,
realizing Robert was
serious. The radical
honesty pact had reached
the point of no return for
them. 'If I give them the
files, you go to prison,
Robert.' 'I know,' Robert
said, his voice sounding
lighter. 'But then the
lying stops.' James felt
a weight lift off his own
tired shoulders. 'I'll
bring them to the DA
tomorrow.' 'Thank you,
James. For everything.'
James hung up the phone
and stared at the server
room. He wasn't an
accomplice anymore. He
was a witness for the
truth. Robert sat in the
condo and looked at
Bella. 'It's done,' he
told the cat, who
blinked slowly in
response. The empire was
officially over. The
phone felt heavy in his
hand, but his heart felt
strangely light.

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