Chapter 16 - The Ledger
The gunshot came from a deputy.
Vanessa had driven a stolen ATV toward an officer blocking the trail.
The shot hit a tire.
The ATV rolled into a ditch.
Vanessa survived with a broken wrist and cuts across her face.
She was taken into custody.
The ledger was missing.
So was Grant Mercer.
By morning, investigators believed Mercer had used the chaos at the lake to retrieve it.
Robert Klein admitted Vanessa had embezzled money for years.
He admitted the board had ignored warning signs because quarterly profits looked good.
He admitted he helped create the temporary executive authority plan.
"But I never agreed to hurt the child," he kept saying.
Mark answered, "You agreed to benefit from it."
Then Vanessa asked to speak to Mark.
Ruiz refused the alone part.
Mark agreed to the rest.
"Where is the ledger?" Mark asked.
"You still don't get it."
"Stop saying that."
"Dad wasn't protecting you."
"He was protecting the company."
"No. He was protecting himself."
Mark's face tightened.
Vanessa leaned closer.
"He knew about the first transfer."
"What first transfer?"
"The one before Alder Ridge."
Mark glanced at Ruiz.
Vanessa smiled.
"Ask Mom why Dad needed cash in 2018."
"You're lying."
"Maybe."
She leaned back.
"But Mercer has the ledger. And when he publishes the last page, your father stops being a saint."
Mark stood.
Vanessa called after him.
"And Sarah learns what you never told her!"
He stopped.
I felt my heart kick.
Mark turned slowly.
"What are you talking about?"
Vanessa smiled at me through the glass.
"The accident in Arizona."
I looked at Mark.
His face told me there was an Arizona.
There was an accident.
And he had never told me.
May you like
Vanessa laughed softly.
"See? Everybody has a secret."
