Chapter 13 - THE LEDGER
They moved Emma before sunrise.
State police picked her up from a motel outside Pooler, where she had been hiding under a false name.
Inside was the ledger.
Just a spiral accounting notebook with dates, addresses, initials, percentages, and payments.
Four protective orders involving spouses.
Three elderly owners declared incompetent.
Two deaths shortly after disputed deeds.
Rebecca’s name appeared beside one address.
Sarah’s appeared on the final page.
MITCHELL — SUNDAY INCIDENT / 50% / COLE / 340K.
At the bottom, Linda had written:
Jason will cooperate.
Sarah stared until the ink blurred.
“My mom wrote notes in the margins.”
Rebecca’s handwriting appeared in red.
LINDA FINDS THE WEAK PERSON IN EACH FAMILY.
Another line:
RAY BUILDS THE PAPER. LINDA BUILDS THE STORY.
Then Emma pulled out a small digital recorder.
“My mom had this in the storage unit too.”
The first file was Rebecca speaking to herself.
“If anything happens to me, Paul didn’t do it.”
Sarah looked at Paul.
The second file contained Linda’s voice.
“You should have signed when I asked.”
Rebecca answered, “You don’t own me.”
“No. But I know what scares my son.”
“You mean what scares you.”
Linda’s voice went low.
“People believe mothers, Rebecca. Especially when daughters-in-law look hysterical.”
Sarah stopped breathing.
The third file was dated the night Rebecca died.
Rebecca breathing fast.
“I’m being followed.”
Rebecca whispered, “Linda.”
The recording ended with tires screaming.
Harris left the room to call the district attorney.
Sarah sat beside Emma.
“I’m sorry.”
Emma looked at her.
“For what?”
“For marrying into this family?”
Emma gave a tired laugh.
“No. For almost becoming my mom.”
Before Sarah could respond, her phone rang.
He was calling from the county jail.
She almost declined.
Then answered.
His first words were:
May you like
“Mom has someone inside the sheriff’s office.”
And behind his voice, Sarah heard a door unlock.
