Chapter 13 - the groom's name in the ledger)
Nathan arrived at the hospital ready to accuse Marcus of everything.
He found him bleeding from the forehead beside an overturned security cart.
Rachel's room was empty.
"What happened?"
Marcus looked up.
"Two men dressed as hospital security."
"Where's Rachel?"
"They took her."
Nathan grabbed his shirt.
"Your name is in Anna's ledger."
Marcus stared.
"What?"
"Millions of dollars. Project June."
Marcus's confusion looked genuine.
Nathan did not trust it.
"Tell me the truth."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Bennett arrived with officers.
Marcus demanded to see the ledger.
She refused.
Nathan described the entries.
M. Vale.
Dates.
Payments.
Marcus slowly sat.
"That's not me."
"Convincing."
"My legal name is Marcus James Vale."
"So?"
"My father's name was Malcolm Vale."
Nathan stopped.
"Your father is dead."
"Yes."
"When?"
"Three years ago."
Caleb, standing under guard nearby, spoke.
"Project June started eleven years ago."
Marcus stared at him.
"You."
"You don't remember me."
"Should I?"
"I worked for your father."
Marcus's face changed.
Nathan looked between them.
"Malcolm Vale was involved?"
Caleb nodded.
"He created the foundation structure Harrison later used."
Marcus looked sick.
"My father?"
"He funded the original research."
"Why?"
Caleb laughed without humor.
"Money."
Marcus stood.
"My father gave half his fortune to children's hospitals."
"Publicly."
Nathan remembered something.
"Anna said not to trust the official story about the Vale Foundation."
Marcus walked to the wall.
For a moment Nathan almost felt sorry for him.
Then Rachel's disappearance returned.
"Who took my sister?"
Caleb answered.
"Harrison."
"Where?"
"I don't know."
Nathan moved toward him.
"Think."
Caleb's eyes narrowed.
"If Harrison took Rachel, he needs her for leverage."
"Against Anna."
"Yes."
"Where would he tell Anna to go?"
Caleb thought.
Then his face changed.
"Arden House."
Nathan stared.
"The burned hotel."
"It's where this began."
Bennett ordered teams dispatched immediately.
Marcus insisted on going.
Nathan blocked him.
"No."
"She's my wife."
"And your family caused this."
"My father isn't me."
Nathan looked into his eyes.
"I don't know that yet."
Marcus stepped closer.
"If Lily disappeared, could anyone stop you?"
Nathan said nothing.
"Then don't try to stop me."
They went together.
Night had fallen by the time police surrounded Arden House.
No lights.
No vehicles.
Nathan entered with Bennett's tactical team.
Inside the ruined corridor, fresh footprints marked the dust.
They followed them toward Room 38.
The hidden cavity where Anna's first evidence had been found was open.
A new envelope lay inside.
NATHAN.
He opened it.
Harrison has Rachel.
Do not follow.
A location was written beneath.
Nathan recognized it.
Westmere Lighthouse.
Bennett swore.
"We were there."
"Harrison waited for police to clear it."
Marcus grabbed his coat.
"We're going."
Bennett stopped him.
"No. This is now a hostage situation."
Nathan looked at the letter.
Anna expected him to find it.
She knew he would follow despite her warning.
Maybe that was the point.
He checked the back.
Nothing.
Then Lily's voice entered his memory.
Mommy said we were playing a secret game.
Anna always hid secondary messages in ordinary things when they played treasure hunts.
Nathan held the page toward the light.
Indented writing appeared.
He shaded it carefully with the side of a pencil from an evidence bag.
Another sentence emerged.
HE WILL WATCH THE ROAD.
USE THE WATER.
Nathan looked toward Marcus.
"Do you have a boat?"
Marcus almost smiled.
"My family owns a hotel on the lake. What do you think?"
Thirty minutes later they were crossing black water without navigation lights.
Bennett's tactical team approached separately.
The lighthouse appeared ahead.
One window glowed.
Nathan's phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
A man's voice.
"Harrison?"
Silence.
Then Rachel screamed.
Nathan gripped the phone.
Harrison Vale spoke calmly.
"Bring me the ledger."
Nathan looked across the water.
"Let her go."
"Bring me what Anna stole."
"You tried to kill my sister."
"I needed information."
"You poisoned her."
"A regrettable necessity."
Nathan heard Marcus's breathing change.
Harrison continued.
"You have thirty minutes."
"Where's Anna?"
For the first time Harrison paused.
"Ask your daughter."
The call ended.
Nathan stared at the phone.
Marcus whispered, "What does Lily know?"
Nathan did not answer.
Because he had just remembered the silver moon necklace.
May you like
Anna had given it to Lily at the wedding.
And they had never examined it.
