Chapter 16
The New York skyline,
greeted her next morning,
bright and beautifully clear.
Clara went directly to,
the federal prison facility,
located upstate in woods.
The visitor room was,
cold and smelled of,
harsh chemical cleaning bleach.
She sat behind glass,
waiting for the man,
who once controlled her.
The heavy door opened,
and Julian Vance entered,
wearing a bright orange,
inmate uniform with numbers.
He looked older now,
his hair completely gray,
his posture slightly bent.
But his eyes still,
held that old malice,
as he sat down.
He picked up phone,
staring at her face,
with a bitter smile.
"So the little bird,
flew to London town,"
he sneered through speaker,
"did you like my,
friend Mr Blackwood dear?"
Clara held the receiver,
her voice perfectly calm,
her expression totally relaxed.
"Blackwood is ruined Julian,
he is in jail,
just like you are."
The smile faded fast,
from his wrinkled face,
replaced by shock waves.
"Your little syndicate is,
completely broken and gone,"
she continued without mercy,
"and your secret accounts,
have been permanently seized."
He slammed his fist,
against the thick glass,
making a loud noise.
Guards stepped up quickly,
putting hands on weapons,
ready to intervene fast.
"You think you won,"
Julian hissed like snake,
"I will find a,
way to destroy you!"
"You never will Julian,"
Clara said softly looking,
at him with pity.
"You are a ghost,
and I am alive,
living in the light."
She hung up phone,
stood up and walked,
away from the glass.
He screamed in rage,
but she didn't look,
back even one time.
She walked out into,
the bright warm sunshine,
breathing the clean air.
The past was dead,
the future was hers,
and the Sterling Group,
would sail forever free,
May you like
under her golden crown,
across the endless blue.
