Chapter 9 - THE LEDGER
Marcus wanted Isabella arrested immediately.
"Not yet."
"You heard the recording."
"I heard a recording that defense attorneys will attack unless we authenticate it."
"She tried to kill my wife."
"And I want a case that survives court."
Marcus hated the calmness.
Anger wanted Isabella in handcuffs.
Vivian remembered one more thing.
"I didn't leave the envelope in my locker."
"What?"
"I got scared after Mom called. I moved it."
"Where?"
"The design lab."
The fire had never reached that floor.
Inside were account ledgers, foundation payments, consulting invoices, and emails.
Preston had been telling the truth.
Twelve million dollars had been moved from the Hale Medical Foundation through companies tied to Owen Price and Dr. Adrian Wells.
Khloe Hale.
Policy owner: Hale Family Legacy Trust.
Contingent controller: Isabella Hale.
Khloe had never signed it.
Avery tapped the page.
"Now we have motive."
Marcus called Preston.
"You knew about the policy?"
"No."
"Then there's more than your ledger."
"Marcus, I was only following foundation money."
"Who would know the insurance side?"
"Your family attorney."
Marcus closed his eyes.
Thomas Reeve.
The man who drafted Marcus's father's estate plan.
The man who had known Isabella since childhood.
Thomas's office claimed he was unavailable.
Then security footage showed him leaving his building with two suitcases.
"Airport?" Marcus asked.
Avery shook his head.
"His car is heading north."
"Where?"
"Lake Geneva."
Isabella's favorite place in the world.
The place their father had left to Marcus.
As police prepared to move, Marcus got a call from Khloe.
"Marcus, where are you?"
"At the office. What's wrong?"
"The nurse brought me flowers."
"From who?"
"There was no card."
Marcus felt his stomach drop.
"Don't touch them."
"I didn't."
"Call security."
"I already did."
"Marcus?"
"Yeah?"
"There's something inside the flowers."
"What?"
"A photograph."
May you like
Khloe turned it over.
THE CAMERA DIDN'T RECORD THE FIRST TIME.
