Chapter 9: The Ledger
Police reached my house in four minutes.
Peter Lang was gone.
So were the flash drives.
But he had made one mistake.
He hadn't known about the second basement camera.
I had installed it years ago facing the exterior basement entrance.
The footage showed Peter leaving through the side door and climbing into a dark SUV.
The license plate was visible.
Agent Brooks sent it out immediately.
Then she turned to me.
“Why would your CFO break into your house?””
“I was hoping you could tell me.””
“Did Peter know about Emma’s trust?””
“He had access to company finances, not personal accounts.””
“Westbridge?””
“Yes.””
“Carter-Hale?””
“I don't know.””
My phone rang again.
This time, I recognized the number.
Vanessa.
Brooks held out her hand.
“Speaker.””
I answered.
“Daniel?””
Vanessa sounded like she'd been crying.
“What do you want?””
“Marcus knows.””
“Knows what?””
“That I talked.””
“Good.””
“No, you don't understand.””
Her breathing became fast.
“He told them.””
“Them?””
“He said Reed knows everything now.””
Brooks began recording.
“Where are you?”” I asked.
“At the station.””
“Then you're safer than Emma was in our basement.””
Vanessa went silent.
I regretted nothing.
“Daniel, please. I know what I did to Emma was wrong.””
“Wrong?””
“I was angry.””
“At a five-year-old.””
“I know.””
“You locked her in a concrete room.””
“I know!””
Her voice cracked.
“I know what I did!””
For the first time, she sounded less defensive.
But remorse didn't erase bruises.
It didn't erase hunger.
“What do you want?””
“To help.””
“Why?””
“Because Marcus lied to me too.””
I almost laughed.
“So now we're victims together?””
“No.””
A long silence.
“No, Daniel. We're not.””
That answer surprised me.
Vanessa continued.
“I did terrible things. I'm not asking you to forgive me.””
“Then talk.””
“The flash drives.””
Brooks leaned closer.
“What about them?””
“They weren't mine.””
“Whose?””
“Sarah’s.””
My late wife.
I stopped breathing.
“What did you say?””
“I found them last year.””
“Where?””
“In the attic. Inside an old sewing box.””
“Why did you hide them?””
“Because Marcus saw me looking at one.””
My voice hardened.
“What was on it?””
“Spreadsheets. Emails. Company records.””
“From when?””
“Before Sarah died.””
Rachel stared at me.
Sarah had handled our company’s legal administration during its first years.
She had been meticulous.
Almost obsessively organized.
“What did the records show?””
“I didn't understand most of it.””
“Vanessa.””
“One spreadsheet had names and payments. Marcus was on it.””
My knees weakened.
Marcus had worked with me before Sarah died.
Of course he had.
“What else?””
“Peter Lang.””
Brooks wrote the name.
“Richard Reed?””
“Yes.””
My blood ran cold.
Sarah had known all three men.
“What were they doing?””
“I don't know.””
“Why didn't you show me?””
Vanessa began crying.
“Because Marcus offered me money.””
There it was.
“How much?””
“Two hundred thousand.””
“And you took it.””
“Yes.””
I looked away.
“He told me to destroy the drives.””
“But you didn't.””
“No.””
“Why?””
“Insurance.””
Of course.
Vanessa had kept evidence because she never completely trusted Marcus.
“Where did you hide them?””
“You saw where.””
“Peter took them.””
“I know.””
“How?””
“Marcus must have told him.””
Brooks leaned toward the phone.
“Vanessa, is there another copy?””
Silence.
“Vanessa?””
“Yes.””
My heart jumped.
“Where?””
“I made one.””
“Where is it?””
“I gave it to someone Marcus would never suspect.””
“Who?””
Before she could answer, another voice sounded faintly through the phone.
A door opening.
Then Vanessa gasped.
“What?””
No answer.
“Vanessa?””
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
“He's here.””
Brooks stood.
“Who is there?””
Vanessa began breathing faster.
“No. He can't be here.””
“Vanessa, tell us who.””
A male voice spoke in the background.
Too faint to recognize.
Then the call disconnected.
Brooks immediately called the station.
I stood helplessly while she demanded someone check Vanessa’s interview room.
Thirty seconds later, her expression changed.
“What do you mean she's gone?””
My stomach dropped.
Brooks put the call on speaker.
A detective answered.
“She was being transferred to another interview room. An officer received paperwork authorizing release into federal custody.””
“I authorized no transfer,” Brooks said.
Silence.
Then the detective swore.
Brooks asked, “Who signed it?””
“Richard Reed.””
Nobody spoke.
Brooks grabbed her coat.
But my phone rang again.
Vanessa.
I answered instantly.
“Where are you?””
For several seconds, I heard only road noise.
Then Vanessa whispered.
“Daniel, listen carefully. I don't have much time.””
“Where's the copy?””
“With Rachel.””
My sister's face went white.
“What?””
Rachel shook her head.
“I don't have anything.””
Vanessa continued.
“You do. I mailed it three weeks ago inside Emma’s birthday card.””
Rachel ran toward the hallway closet.
I followed.
She pulled down a stack of unopened mail from a basket.
“There.””
A pink envelope.
Emma Carter.
Rachel tore it open.
Inside was a birthday card.
And beneath it—
a microSD card taped behind the cardboard lining.
“I found it,” I said.
Vanessa exhaled.
“Don't give it to the police.””
Brooks stared at the phone.
“Why?””
“Because Reed isn't the only one helping Marcus.””
A car door slammed on Vanessa's end.
She started crying.
“Daniel, Sarah figured it out before she died.””
My hand tightened around the phone.
“Figured out what?””
“That Marcus was stealing from you.””
My throat closed.
“Sarah died in a car accident.””
Vanessa whispered one final sentence.
“I know.””
May you like
Then someone ripped the phone away from her.
The line went dead.
