Chapter 12 - the second ledger)
They reached Nathan's house to find the front door open.
Police entered first.
The living room had been searched violently.
Drawers dumped.
Furniture overturned.
Anna's storage box emptied across the floor.
Nathan felt a surge of rage.
"Caleb?"
No response.
Bennett's team cleared the house.
Empty.
Then Nathan heard something upstairs.
A floorboard.
He ignored Bennett's order to stay back.
Nathan climbed.
The bedroom door moved.
Caleb Rourke stepped out.
He looked terrible.
Blood stained one sleeve.
Nathan hit him before he could speak.
Caleb fell against the wall.
Bennett shouted.
Nathan grabbed Caleb by the jacket.
"You came to my house."
"I came for Anna's drive."
"You escaped police."
"I was extracted."
"By Harrison?"
"His men."
Nathan stared.
"Then how are you here?"
"I jumped from the car."
Caleb looked toward Bennett.
"I'll explain while not being punched."
She handcuffed him again.
Nathan remained furious.
"Where is the second ledger?"
Caleb laughed bitterly.
"You think I carry it around?"
"Anna said you have it."
"I know what she wrote."
Nathan stopped.
"You saw her."
Caleb nodded.
"At the wedding."
"Where is she?"
"I don't know."
Nathan nearly hit him again.
Caleb continued.
"She contacted me three weeks ago."
"Why?"
"Harrison discovered she was alive."
"How?"
"Brighton footage leaked."
Nathan remembered the surveillance image.
"Harrison knew Rachel had received Anna's letter," Caleb said. "He believed Rachel knew where she was."
"So he poisoned her."
"Not exactly."
Nathan stared.
"The poison wasn't meant to kill Rachel."
"She nearly died."
"It was supposed to make her sick enough for an ambulance."
"Why?"
"Because Harrison had a team prepared to intercept the ambulance."
Nathan's stomach turned.
"Kidnap her."
"Question her."
"And the cake?"
"Distraction."
Bennett frowned.
"Why poison a cake served to hundreds of people?"
"They didn't."
Caleb shook his head.
"The capsule Lily saw wasn't poison."
Nathan stared.
"Owen said it was."
"Owen said what we needed people to believe."
Nathan moved closer.
"Explain."
"The red capsule contained a harmless dye and tracking marker."
Bennett looked furious.
"Then why announce poison?"
"To stop the cake service and cause evacuation."
"But the doors locked."
"That wasn't us."
"Who locked them?"
"Harrison's team."
Nathan realized two operations had collided.
Anna, Caleb and Owen were trying to disrupt the reception because they knew Rachel's drink would be targeted.
Harrison's people locked the ballroom to keep Rachel inside long enough for the toxin to affect her.
"The cake was never poisoned?"
Caleb shook his head.
"The champagne was."
Nathan felt both relief and anger.
"Then why didn't you simply tell police?"
"Because Harrison owns people."
"Not everyone."
"Enough."
Bennett remained silent.
Caleb looked at Nathan.
"Anna didn't trust anyone after the crash."
"Why didn't she trust me?"
"She did."
"She let me believe she was dead."
"Because Harrison threatened Lily."
Nathan stopped.
Caleb's voice softened.
"Anna survived the car attack because she switched vehicles during the camera blackout."
Nathan remembered the ninety seconds.
"The burning car was empty?"
"Almost."
"What does that mean?"
Caleb looked away.
"One of Harrison's men was driving it after intercepting her."
Nathan stared.
"Anna escaped?"
"Yes."
"Then whose remains were found?"
"The man trying to kill her."
Nathan felt dizzy.
"Harrison assumed she died?"
"For months."
"And Anna stayed hidden."
"To collect evidence."
Nathan looked at the destruction around him.
"The ledger."
Caleb nodded.
"It proves Project June wasn't just illegal research. Harrison moved billions through medical charities and private companies."
"Where is it?"
Caleb looked toward Lily's bedroom.
Nathan's pulse quickened.
"No."
Caleb stood despite the cuffs and walked toward the doorway under Bennett's supervision.
Inside Lily's room was a wooden dollhouse Anna had bought before she died.
Nathan had moved it between houses without questioning its weight.
Caleb pointed.
"Bottom panel."
Nathan turned the dollhouse over.
A hidden compartment opened.
Inside sat a black notebook.
The second ledger.
Nathan stared.
Anna had hidden evidence in their daughter's toy.
Bennett carefully removed it.
Pages contained names.
Payments.
Dates.
Government officials.
Doctors.
Corporate executives.
Nathan saw Harrison Vale repeatedly.
Then another name stopped him.
Marcus Vale.
Nathan looked toward Bennett.
"No."
Caleb saw it.
"I told you the truth would hurt."
Nathan read the entry.
M. Vale.
Multiple transfers.
Millions.
"Marcus?"
Caleb shook his head.
"I don't know."
Nathan's phone rang.
Marcus's name appeared.
For the first time, Nathan did not answer.
A message arrived.
Rachel is missing.
Nathan went cold.
May you like
Another message.
Someone took her from the hospital.
