Chapter 5 - RENEE'S BOX
They reached Renee's house before the SUV left.
Owen blocked the driveway.
Two campaign security men surrendered when federal investigator Lena Ortiz arrived behind Rachel.
Maya ran inside.
Her mother was locked in the basement.
Shaken.
Unhurt.
"They wanted Arthur's box."
Empty.
The box had contained original ledgers from Thomas Whitmore's first mayoral campaign.
Illegal donors.
Shell companies.
Carter trucks moving cash disguised as construction payments.
Arthur participated at first.
Then tried to pull out.
"My father helped them."
"He did. Then he spent twenty years trying to undo it without admitting what he'd done."
No saint.
No clean history.
"I told you not to marry into this family."
"I know."
"Why did she?"
Renee's expression softened.
"Because she loved you."
Margaret's favorite insult died in four words.
"But Arthur did ask Daniel to marry Maya quickly after Julian died."
Julian had discovered the old campaign network before his boating accident.
He planned to expose it.
He died two weeks later.
The Coast Guard called it bad weather.
Renee never believed that.
Owen checked one captured guard's phone.
Message:
PACKAGE SECURED.
Delivery location:
Carter Harbor Club.
Thomas Whitmore's fundraiser started there at noon.
Then Renee looked at Lily's stuffed rabbit.
"The drive."
"It's gone."
Renee cursed.
Arthur hid a microdrive inside the toy years ago.
Not only campaign ledgers.
A video Julian recorded the night before he died.
Daniel went cold.
"Who knew?"
"Arthur. Me. Maya."
"And now Margaret."
They rushed back to Newport.
Margaret was gone.
So was Caroline Whitmore's car.
Margaret had taken it.
At noon, Thomas took the stage at the Harbor Club and began a speech about family values.
Margaret stood beside him with Lily's stuffed rabbit under her arm.
May you like
Beside Margaret stood Caroline.
Caroline was crying.
