Chapter 5 - THE ORPHEUS LEDGER
Vanessa claimed Allison had contacted her nine weeks before the crash.
At first, Evelyn refused to believe her.
Vanessa had stood beside Allison’s casket wearing her bracelet. She had smiled and said she had won. Her recorded voice had discussed failing brakes with Derek.
But Vanessa explained that every action had been part of a role Allison asked her to play.
“Derek had to believe I wanted his money,” Vanessa said. “He trusts greed because it is the only motive he understands.”
Detective Ortiz kept her near the doorway.
“You were arrested less than an hour ago.”
“I was detained. I offered the location of Dr. Reeve and proof that Derek paid him. The district attorney approved my release under supervision.”
“Whose supervision?”
A man stepped from the stairwell.
He showed Ortiz his federal credentials.
Special Agent Adrian Cross worked in the financial crimes division. According to his identification, he had been investigating Meridian for four years.
Ortiz examined the credentials, then called the number printed on them.
The identity was confirmed.
Cross entered the apartment.
“Vanessa’s legal name is Natalie Voss,” he said. “She has been cooperating with us for seven months.”
Evelyn looked at Vanessa.
“Then why humiliate me at the funeral?”
“Allison’s instructions.”
“She told you to wear her bracelet?”
“Yes.”
“To tell me you won?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Derek had placed someone inside the chapel. Allison needed them to believe I was still loyal to him.”
“Who?”
Vanessa looked toward the black apartment windows.
“We don’t know.”
The electricity returned.
The sudden light made everyone blink.
Cross pulled the curtains closed.
“The false ledger at the train station contains a tracking device,” he said. “Allison intended Benjamin to take it.”
Ortiz turned toward him.
“You knew about the locker.”
“We knew there was a location. Not the exact one.”
“You allowed Mrs. Hart to believe the evidence was real.”
“We needed Benjamin to believe she would go after it.”
Evelyn looked at the key.
“So this does not open locker 214?”
“It does,” Vanessa said. “But the locker contains copies and a transmitter. The original ledger is somewhere else.”
“Where?”
“Allison never told me.”
Evelyn understood the reason.
Allison had divided the truth among several people. Claire knew about the archive. Vanessa knew about the trap. Benjamin knew about the false death. No one had enough information to betray her completely.
Not even Evelyn.
Ortiz received a message from officers near the abandoned station.
They had seen Benjamin’s vehicle.
She looked at Cross.
“You are not taking control of this operation.”
“I’m not asking to.”
“Good.”
They left through the garage.
Evelyn rode with Ortiz while Cross and Vanessa followed in an unmarked vehicle.
The abandoned First National station stood near the river at the edge of the old industrial district. Its broken clock remained frozen at 2:14, the time a fire had damaged the west wing twenty-three years earlier.
Locker 214 was located inside the former baggage room.
Ortiz positioned officers around the building before allowing Evelyn to enter with the blue-threaded key.
The station smelled of wet stone and rust.
Their footsteps echoed beneath the high ceiling.
Vanessa walked close to Evelyn.
“Whatever happens, do not give Benjamin the key.”
“He helped Allison escape.”
“He also tried to control where she went.”
“What does that mean?”
“Allison was supposed to disappear into a Meridian safe house after the crash. She refused.”
“Why?”
“She discovered the safe house belonged to the people Derek was laundering money for.”
A light appeared inside the baggage room.
Benjamin stood beside locker 214.
He looked tired rather than surprised.
“Evelyn,” he said. “Give me the key.”
Ortiz stepped forward.
“Hands where I can see them.”
Benjamin raised both hands.
“I am not armed.”
“You fled a police investigation.”
“I fled because Derek’s people were inside the chapel.”
“Which people?”
“The officer guarding him.”
Ortiz’s eyes narrowed.
The officer assigned to Derek had disappeared before Derek entered the underground archive. His location was still unknown.
Benjamin looked at Vanessa.
“And her.”
Vanessa did not react.
“She works for Meridian,” Benjamin said.
“So do you,” Evelyn replied.
“I worked with them.”
“What is the difference?”
“I was trying to dismantle the network.”
Vanessa laughed quietly.
“That is what every Meridian member says when caught.”
Benjamin looked at Evelyn.
“Allison trusted me.”
“She recorded evidence against you.”
“She recorded everyone. That was how she stayed alive.”
Evelyn held up the key.
“What is inside the locker?”
“The Orpheus Ledger.”
“Vanessa says it is a decoy.”
“Vanessa is lying.”
“Allison said the same thing about you.”
Something moved in Benjamin’s expression.
Pain, perhaps.
Or fear.
“She was supposed to follow the plan,” he said.
“What plan?”
“To disappear until Derek and Meridian believed she was dead.”
“Where was she supposed to go?”
“A protected residence in Canada.”
“Owned by Meridian?”
Benjamin did not answer.
Vanessa stepped closer.
“Allison discovered the truth before she left the lake house. Benjamin’s escape route was never an escape.”
“It was the only way to protect her,” he said.
“You were delivering her to them.”
“No.”
“Then why did Meridian transfer you two million dollars?”
Benjamin’s face changed.
Cross held up a tablet displaying the transaction.
The money had entered an account connected to Benjamin three days before the crash.
Benjamin looked toward the station’s rear exit.
Officers moved into view.
He was surrounded.
Evelyn inserted the key into locker 214.
Benjamin shouted, “Don’t open it.”
She turned the key.
The locker door swung outward.
Inside was a thick black folder and a small electronic device.
A red light began blinking.
Cross checked his scanner.
“The transmitter is active.”
Benjamin stepped backward.
“You don’t understand.”
“What?” Evelyn asked.
“That signal does not tell us where Meridian is.”
A deep vibration moved through the station floor.
Dust fell from the ceiling.
Benjamin stared at the blinking device.
“It tells Meridian where you are.”
May you like
The station lights exploded into darkness.
A vehicle crashed through the locked side entrance.
