Carson was so nice to Jewel, but Betty knew he would only act this way until he got what he wanted. Betty played along. She liked to see him squirm as much as she enjoyed wrapping him around her finger with the rest of the jewelry he gave her. It was a fun game, but toying with him was only part of her mission. She never forgot that he was a monster and needed to be destroyed.
Some nights she would stay at the bank after hours and hide until everyone was gone. Then she wandered the building alone. On those nights she learned about the world of business, by exploring the dark underside of the Citadel bank. At night the institution was vulnerable without the infusion of men’s greed to protect it. Betty hoped her covert investigation would expose Carson’s business secrets. There had to be evidence of his crimes hidden somewhere in the bank, and she was going to find it.
There were thousands of documents filed under a myriad of categories and subcategories stored all over the building. Her early explorations were more like reconnaissance missions. She wasn't entirely sure what she was looking for. She didn’t expect to find a file folder with the word “Crimes” stamped on it, but she assumed she would be able to detect something incriminating if she stumbled on to it. Instead she found mounds of papers that made no sense. The more she read the more frustrated she became. She didn't understand the contractual language of financial-ese. She came to realize that she couldn't follow a paper trail to a crime if she didn't know where to start. She needed to consult an expert.
While snooping through Carson's desk one night, Betty discovered what amounted to a vanquished enemies list. One of the names was Leo Langley. Carson's perceived enemies were always in the forefront of his mind. He alluded to them often. Betty heard of Langley before but didn't know all the details. All she knew for sure was that he used to be a lawyer and he crossed swords with Carson once in the past. Maybe Langley would be interested in helping take down Carson if she could find him.
It was a typical evening for Professor Leo Langley of Redact University. He wore gold, wire-rimmed glasses. He had wavy graying hair and a thick mustache that hid his entire mouth. It wiggled when he spoke acting as proof that his voice came from him. He sat in his office at the end of the law department grading papers by desk-lamp. He enjoyed reading his students' work. They were all so filled with energy, idealism, and righteousness. Their interpretations of the world and legal matters made him nostalgic for his own ideals, poisoned so many years ago. He knew about the ambush awaiting these bright young legal minds as they entered society. He did his best to prepare them for how dangerous the world outside of school really was.
His students were the only things he could depend on. They came to class every day at the same time. He lectured and they participated in discussions. They did their assignments and proved they'd received nuggets of his wisdom in their words. They listened to what he said. They took him seriously and he felt that it was only fair to reciprocate. He read every word they wrote. He was devoted to his task, so much so that he often lost track of other parts of his life.
He felt safe in the order of Redact University, but was miserable in all other aspects of his existence. He made a mess of it. He seemed to be facing the wrong direction during every important decision of his adult life. He didn't trust himself any more, not out there in the world.
It was so strange outside off campus. Nothing in the world made sense. Nothing matched anything he'd learned in books. He was an intellect and believed he could solve all problems with his mind. But he had no control of anything outside of it. Each decision he'd made out there had been one mistake after another. He was filled with intense doubt. His thinking paralyzed him. He didn't want to suffer any more consequences from his actions.
Suddenly he froze and held his breath. Did the floor creak behind him? Was something lurking in the hallway? He counted to thirty in his head, as he listened… nothing but silence. He exhaled and said to himself, "You're so jumpy, you fool."
He attempted to refocus on the students’ papers, but could feel his mind wandering. When he was younger he was more like them. He missed that about himself. There was no mystery to what changed. He knew precisely when and why he lost his confidence. He could feel the bad thoughts leaking from a suppressed memory. When they crept out he couldn't focus on his work. The familiar trauma came on too strong to ignore. The disruption was back and the life-changing event unfolded in his minds eye for the millionth time.