Chapter 15 - The Death Ledger
Robert survived.
Smoke inhalation, a cut above his eyebrow, two cracked ribs.
Not dead.
Not forgiven.
Claire sat beside his hospital bed the next morning while Ethan slept in a chair by the window.
Mark had gone with investigators to identify Crane’s files.
Linda sat in the chapel.
Robert opened his eyes.
“You stayed.”
Claire did not smile.
“Don’t make it mean more than it does.”
He nodded weakly.
Fair.
She leaned forward.
“What is the death ledger?”
Robert stared at the ceiling.
“Walter kept leverage.”
“On who?”
“Everyone.”
“Meaning?”
“People who were paid after accidents. Families. Lawyers. Police officers. Contractors who fixed vehicles. Doctors who changed reports.”
Claire’s stomach turned.
“You’re saying Grandpa wasn’t the only one.”
“No.”
“How many?”
“I don’t know.”
“Where is it?”
“Crane said Walter kept copies in different places.”
Claire’s voice hardened.
“Why did Crane take you?”
“I confronted him about your documents.”
“You cut open my bag.”
Robert closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I thought if I gave Crane the investigation notes, he would stop targeting you.”
Claire stood.
“You still thought you could trade your way out.”
“I know.”
“No. You don’t.”
Her voice rose for the first time.
“You keep calling it protection, but every time you ‘protect’ someone, you steal their choice. You stole Grandpa’s choice. Mom’s. Ethan’s. Mine. Even Mark’s.”
Ethan opened his eyes.
Robert looked at his son.
Ethan said quietly, “She’s right.”
Robert turned away.
A knock came at the door.
Marisol entered.
“We found a hidden compartment in Crane’s office.”
She placed a photograph on the table.
A ledger.
Black cover.
Handwritten names.
“Is that it?” Claire asked.
Robert nodded.
Marisol sat.
“There are entries going back twenty-two years.”
Ethan swallowed.
“How many people?”
“Potential victims? We don’t know yet.”
Claire looked at the photo.
“Walter?”
“His attorneys got him released last night.”
Claire’s head snapped up.
“What?”
“We couldn’t hold him on suspicion alone. Crane is talking, but slowly.”
Claire stared.
Walter was free.
Marisol continued.
“And the original death ledger is missing.”
Robert whispered, “Then he has it.”
Claire’s phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
A text.
A photograph.
Linda, sitting alone in the hospital chapel.
Taken from across the room.
Beneath it:
May you like
YOUR FAMILY HAS ONE LAST CHANCE TO STAY QUIET.
Claire was already running before Ethan saw the screen.
