Chapter 14 - HER FATHER'S LAST SECRET|
Sarah left the gala before the speeches resumed.
She didn't want Charles to see how deeply his words had affected her.
Her father, Robert Ellis, had died two years earlier after a brief illness. He had been a quiet accountant who believed in paying his debts, keeping his promises, and treating people fairly.
He had never mentioned any connection to Charles Bennett beyond helping Daniel secure an early investment.
Now Sarah wondered whether her father's death had concealed another story.
Evelyn met her at Emily's house the next morning.
"Charles may have been trying to provoke you," she said. "We shouldn't assume his statement was accurate."
"I know. But he knew exactly where to hurt me."
"Then we'll examine the records."
They reviewed Robert's estate documents, old tax filings, and correspondence preserved by his attorney.
At first, everything appeared ordinary.
Then Evelyn found a reference to an account that had been closed six months before Robert's death.
The account had belonged to a small consulting company he once operated.
Its final transaction was a transfer to a nonprofit organization that had later received money from Bennett Holdings.
Sarah stared at the entry.
"Why would Dad transfer money there?"
"We need the underlying documents."
Evelyn requested the archived account records through the appropriate channels. Meanwhile, Sarah searched her father's old files and discovered a notebook containing handwritten calculations.
Several pages referred to a company called Northstar Meridian.
The name appeared repeatedly beside dates corresponding to the disputed transfers.
At the back of the notebook was a message written in Robert's handwriting.
If the Bennett accounts are ever investigated, look for the second ledger. The first one tells you where the money went. The second tells you who ordered it.
Sarah read the sentence aloud.
Evelyn sat very still.
"Did your father ever mention a second ledger?"
"Never."
They searched the notebook for additional clues.
Inside the back cover, Sarah found a small paper sleeve containing a key.
It was old, brass, and stamped with the number 318.
Evelyn called the attorney who had managed Robert's estate.
He remembered that Robert had rented a private storage locker for several years but had canceled the agreement shortly before his death. The company had since been acquired, and the original records were stored in an archive facility.
The next afternoon, Evelyn obtained authorization to search the archived inventory.
Locker 318 contained a sealed metal box.
Inside were copies of financial records, a handwritten letter, and a small digital drive.
Sarah opened the letter.
My dearest Sarah,
If you have found this, then I was unable to explain everything before I left you. I need you to know that I never knowingly helped anyone steal money. I discovered the scheme after Daniel's father asked me to review a set of accounts that did not make sense.
I preserved the records because I believed the truth would eventually matter.
There is one person who knows where the original ledger is hidden. I trusted that person once. I hope you will not make the same mistake.
The letter ended with a name.
Richard Hale.
Sarah looked at Evelyn.
"The man from Chloe's photographs."
Evelyn nodded slowly.
"Then we need to find him before Charles does."
Sarah placed the letter back in its envelope.
May you like
Her father had spent his final months protecting evidence he believed could expose a powerful family.
And now the responsibility had passed to her.
