They did not drive directly to the warehouse.
Evan insisted on stopping three blocks away.
Marcus objected.
“We don't have time.”
“We have exactly the amount of time they expect us to have.”
Darla looked at him.
“What does that mean?”
“They expect panic.”
Evan opened the briefcase.
He removed the ledger.
Then he photographed every page.
He sent the images to three separate people.
His attorney.
His security director.
And a federal investigator he had worked with years earlier on a corporate fraud case.
“If I don't cancel the message within thirty minutes,” Evan said, “they receive everything.”
Marcus looked at him.
“Good.”
Darla understood.
“You're making the ledger impossible to bury.”
“Exactly.”
“But they don't know that.”
“That is the point.”
They continued toward the warehouse.
The building stood at the end of an industrial road.
No traffic.
No pedestrians.
Only a single light above the entrance.
Darla's hands were shaking.
Evan noticed.
“You don't have to go inside.”
“My grandson is inside.”
“I know.”
“Then I'm going.”
Marcus looked at Evan.
“I'll stay with her.”
“No.”
Marcus frowned.
“You're going in alone?”
“No.”
Evan opened the rear compartment of the vehicle.
Inside were two protective vests.
He handed one to Darla.
She stared at it.
“You expected this.”
“I expected something.”
He handed the other to Marcus.
Then he looked at his watch.
Ten minutes had passed.
“Let's go.”
The warehouse door was unlocked.
That was the first thing Evan noticed.
The second was the silence.
No machinery.
No footsteps.
No voices.
They entered.
A single overhead light illuminated the center of the room.
A chair stood beneath it.
A child's backpack rested on the floor.
Darla stopped breathing.
“My grandson.”
She ran forward.
Evan caught her arm.
“Wait.”
She fought him.
“That's his bag.”
“I know.”
“Let me go.”
“Look at it.”
She did.
The backpack was clean.
Too clean.
There was no dust on it despite the warehouse floor being covered in grime.
It had been placed there recently.
As bait.
A voice came from the darkness.
“Mr. Cole.”
Evan turned.
Daniel stepped into the light.
His suit was wrinkled.
His face looked exhausted.
But he was alive.
Darla stared at him.
“You.”
Daniel looked at her.
“I didn't know your grandson was involved.”
“You knew everything else.”
“I knew enough.”
Evan stepped forward.
“Where is the boy?”
Daniel looked at him.
“I don't know.”
Darla nearly lunged at him.
Marcus stopped her.
“You don't know?”
Daniel shook his head.
“I was told they had him.”
“By whom?”
“Victor.”
Evan's expression hardened.
“Where is he?”
Daniel looked toward the far end of the warehouse.
A door stood there.
“He's nearby.”
“Why are you here?”
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“Because I made the same mistake your father made.”
Evan stared at him.
“You joined him.”
“I thought I could control him.”
“You stole my credentials.”
“I used your credentials.”
“That's worse.”
“I know.”
“Why?”
Daniel looked down.
“Because he threatened my family too.”
The explanation did not satisfy Evan.
“You could have come to me.”
“I thought you would never understand.”
“Understand what?”
Daniel's eyes lifted.
“What your father did.”
The words landed heavily.
Evan stepped closer.
“What did my father do?”
Daniel swallowed.
“He built the fortune you inherited with money that wasn't clean.”
Darla looked at him.
Evan said nothing.
Daniel continued.
“He was involved with people who moved money through legitimate businesses. Hotels. Construction. Aviation. Real estate. Your father tried to leave.”
“And Victor stopped him.”
“Yes.”
“Then why did my father die?”
Daniel hesitated.
“I don't know.”
“You know more than that.”
“I know Victor believed your father had hidden something.”
“The ledger.”
“Yes.”
Evan held his gaze.
“What is Victor looking for?”
Daniel's voice dropped.
“Names.”
“Whose names?”
“Everyone who was involved.”
Evan looked at the ledger.
“So he wants to destroy the evidence.”
“Not destroy it.”
Daniel shook his head.
“He wants to control it.”
The lights suddenly went out.
Darla gasped.
Marcus drew his weapon.
Evan remained still.
A voice came through the darkness.
“You finally understand.”
Victor.
Evan recognized the voice immediately.
“Where is the boy?”
“You're still thinking like a businessman.”
“Answer me.”
“You believe everything has a price.”
“No.”
Evan's voice remained steady.
“I believe people reveal themselves when they think they have control.”
Victor laughed.
“Your father sounded exactly like you.”
“Then you knew him.”
“I knew him better than you did.”
A light came on above the opposite door.
A man stood there.
Older.
Silver-haired.
Perfectly dressed.
His expression was calm.
Victor Hale.
Darla stared at him.
“You threatened my family.”
Victor looked at her.
“I gave you instructions.”
“You kidnapped a child.”
“I borrowed leverage.”
Evan's face hardened.
“You're finished.”
Victor smiled.
“Am I?”
He pointed toward Evan's briefcase.
“Give me the ledger.”
Evan did not move.
“You know what happens if I refuse.”
“Yes.”
“Then you understand.”
Victor looked toward Darla.
“The child is alive.”
Darla's breath caught.
“Where?”
Victor ignored her.
“Give me the ledger.”
Evan lifted the briefcase.
Then dropped it.
It struck the floor.
Victor smiled.
“Good.”
Evan stepped backward.
“You should open it.”
Victor bent down.
He opened the case.
Inside was nothing.
Victor's smile disappeared.
Evan looked at him.
“The real ledger is already out of your reach.”
Victor stared.
“What did you do?”
“I made copies.”
Victor's expression changed.
Evan continued.
“And if anything happens to Darla's grandson, the entire ledger goes to people you cannot threaten.”
Victor slowly stood.
“You're bluffing.”
“No.”
Daniel looked at Victor.
For the first time, Victor appeared uncertain.
Then a sound came from somewhere behind them.
A child crying.
Darla turned.
“Eli?”
A door opened.
A security officer led a young boy into the warehouse.
Darla ran to him.
Her grandson wrapped both arms around her.
She held him tightly.
Victor looked at Evan.
“You planned this.”
Evan shook his head.
“No.”
He looked at Darla and the boy.
“I adapted.”
Victor's face became cold.
“You think this is over?”
Evan looked directly at him.
“No.”
He took one step forward.
“I think this is where it finally begins.”
Click here to continue reading: PART 8: Victor Thought the Ledger Would Save Him, Until Evan Revealed What His Father Had Hidden on the Final Page
She Took His Seat Without Looking Twice, Certain Money and Influence Would Make Everyone Else Step Aside
Part 7 of 12
