Chapter 4 - THE NAME IN THE LEDGERHenrietta demanded answers.
Brock disappeared.
His phone went directly to voicemail.
Samuel advised her not to return to the ranch alone.
She ignored him.
But when she arrived, the house was empty.
No Brock.
No Natasha's belongings.
No employees.
The place had been abandoned in a hurry.
Then Henrietta noticed the basement door.
It was open.
She entered.
Dust covered everything except one section of the floor.
Someone had recently moved a cabinet.
Behind it was a metal safe.
Samuel arrived minutes later.
Inside the safe was a ledger.
Arthur's handwriting covered the first page.
The entries described payments made over twenty years.
Politicians.
Contractors.
Private investigators.
And one name repeated again and again.
MARTIN VALE.
Henrietta recognized it.
Martin had been Arthur's business partner.
He had disappeared after Arthur's death.
Samuel looked concerned.
“This man may be the key.”
“Where is he?”
“Dead.”
Henrietta's stomach dropped.
“When?”
“Three months ago.”
“How?”
“Car accident.”
Too convenient.
Then they found another document.
A photograph.
Arthur.
Martin.
And Brock.
Standing together outside a warehouse.
The photograph was dated two weeks before Arthur's death.
Henrietta looked at the image.
Brock had been smiling.
Martin was smiling.
Arthur wasn't.
On the back, Arthur had written:
They think I don't know.
Henrietta felt tears burn her eyes.
“Why didn't he tell me?”
Samuel answered quietly.
“Maybe he was trying to protect you.”
That possibility hurt more than the truth.
Then the basement lights went out.
Henrietta froze.
Samuel reached for his phone.
A sound came from upstairs.
Footsteps.
Slow.
Measured.
Someone was inside.
Samuel whispered, “Stay behind me.”
The footsteps stopped.
Then a voice came from the doorway.
“Mom?”
Brock.
Henrietta stepped forward.
“Where is Natasha?”
Brock looked exhausted.
His shirt was wrinkled.
His face was pale.
“I didn't hurt her.”
“Where is she?”
“She left.”
“Where?”
“I don't know.”
Henrietta's anger exploded.
“You expect me to believe that?”
Brock shook his head.
“No.”
“Then tell me the truth.”
He looked at the ledger.
“You found it.”
“Yes.”
“Then you know why I did what I did.”
“No. I know why you stole.”
“I didn't steal.”
“You forged Natasha's signature.”
“I was trying to stop the foundation.”
“From doing what?”
Brock's eyes filled with frustration.
“From exposing Dad.”
Henrietta stared.
“Exposing him for what?”
Brock swallowed.
“He wasn't innocent.”
“I know he kept secrets.”
“You don't know half of it.”
Brock stepped closer.
“Dad's company was laundering money.”
Henrietta felt numb.
“He wasn't just a businessman.”
“No.”
“What was he?”
Brock looked toward the basement window.
“He was working with people who made sure nobody talked.”
Henrietta stared at him.
“And you?”
“I found out after he died.”
“You joined them?”
“No.”
His voice cracked.
“I tried to get out.”
Henrietta shook her head.
“You terrorized your wife.”
“I thought if she gave up the trust, they'd leave her alone.”
“That doesn't make sense.”
“It does if you know what happens when people come looking.”
Brock looked directly at her.
“They killed Martin.”
Henrietta said nothing.
“And now they're coming for Natasha.”
A sound came from outside.
A car door slammed.
May you like
Brock's face changed.
“They found us.”
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