Chapter 12: The Number That Cannot Hold

Gideon Wren asked the clerk to run Alex Jin's trust number before any councilor could rise.

The number Alex had written on his appearance document belonged to a closed account.

Gideon knew it.

Marcus crossed the chamber floor and set the council's stamped appearance copy on the alpha's table.

'Keep this in front of you,' he said. 'He will reach for it.'

Caspian put his palm flat on the copy and did not lift it.

Gideon's aide took one step toward the table and stopped.

The clerk lifted her pen.

'Mr. Jin,' she said. 'Confirm the trust registration number you submitted for the record.'

One breath.

Alex slid the stamped copy an inch toward the clerk's line of sight.

'Compare it against the council's own copy first,' he said. 'The one you sealed the day I filed.'

Gideon rose from his seat.

'The number should be checked against the trust registry now,' he said. 'Before any other business. So the council can rule on my motion today.'

He wanted the mismatch to be the finding.

The clerk laid the stamped copy beside her ledger.

She read the number off the page Alex had signed.

'This number belongs to a trust account closed four years ago,' she said.

The chamber went quiet.

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