Chapter 10 - The Missing Ledger
The message was followed by a photograph. It showed Colin Reed, Evan’s attorney, entering a private airfield with Malcolm Vale.
Evan stared at the image. Colin had represented him for fifteen years. He had negotiated ceasefires, protected legitimate employees, and stood beside Evan when Lillian’s coffin was lowered into the ground.
“It could be old,” Ortiz said.
“The timestamp is from last night.”
Grace took the phone. “The sender wants you to react.”
“Then we should not react.”
“That is not the same as ignoring it.”
Colin arrived at Briar House before noon, wearing his usual navy suit and carrying a leather case. He looked offended rather than frightened.
“I assume you have questions,” he said.
“Where were you last night?”
“At my office.”
Evan placed the photograph on the table.
Colin examined it. “This was taken at the airfield months ago.”
“The timestamp says yesterday.”
“Then the timestamp is false.”
Grace watched his left hand. He kept touching the small gold button on his cuff. Lillian had once told Evan that Colin did it whenever he was lying.
Evan had forgotten.
“Where is the ledger?” Evan asked.
Colin’s hand stopped.
“I do not know what you mean.”
“Lillian said it was with the person who speaks when I cannot.”
“Poetic statements are not legal instructions.”
“You handled her estate.”
“After her death, yes.”
“You had access to her safety deposit boxes.”
“So did you.”
The children’s counselor entered from the east hall, and the conversation ended. Evan waited until Colin left before turning to Grace.
“He is lying.”
“I agree.”
“I want him followed.”
“By whom?”
Evan looked toward the empty security station. “I have people.”
“You have people who are frightened of losing their income. That is not the same as loyalty.”
Grace contacted the advocacy center. Her former colleague Priya Shah found corporate filings showing that Colin had created a trust in Sophie and Caleb’s names. The trust held no money. It held a single asset: a storage unit in Bridgeport.
“That must be the ledger,” Evan said.
“Or a trap,” Ortiz replied.
They went with a warrant. The storage unit contained Lillian’s desk, a box of children’s drawings, and dozens of sealed envelopes. It looked as though someone had taken an entire office and abandoned it in a hurry.
Inside the desk drawer, Evan found a second cassette recorder. This one played a conversation between Lillian and Colin.
“You cannot protect Evan by helping Nolan,” Lillian said.
Colin’s voice answered, “I am buying time.”
“Time for whom?”
“For everyone.”
“No. You are waiting to see which side wins.”
The recording ended there.
Colin appeared at the storage unit entrance, flanked by federal agents. He looked directly at Evan.
“I was trying to keep the ledger from Malcolm,” he said.
“You gave him access to my accounts.”
“I gave him false accounts.”
“You met Nolan.”
“To feed him information that would keep him away from the children.”
Grace stepped forward. “And did you tell Evan?”
Colin’s silence answered.
“You were not protecting him,” Evan said. “You were managing him.”
Colin’s face collapsed. “Lillian asked me to keep you from destroying yourself. She knew you would choose revenge if you discovered the truth.”
“She was right.”
“The ledger is not here. Nolan took it from my office three nights ago.”
Before Ortiz could question him further, the building alarm sounded. A fire had started in the rear corridor.
Grace grabbed the box of children’s drawings. Evan reached for the desk, but smoke rolled beneath the door.
On the floor, beneath a fallen drawer, lay one final envelope.
May you like
Its seal bore the same blue thread as the rabbit’s ear.
The front was addressed to Grace.
