Chapter 5 - The Man Behind the MoneyThomas Reed had spent twenty-two years building a reputation as the lawyer wealthy men trusted when they wanted ugly problems buried.
He knew where the bodies were.
Not literally.
Usually.
But tonight, for the first time in his career, he was afraid.
His office lights were off.
The city glowed below the windows.
He held an old file in his hands.
The original Bellmont documents.
He had kept them.
For six years.
He had told himself it was insurance.
Now it was evidence.
His assistant knocked.
“Mr. Reed?”
“Come in.”
She entered with a frightened expression.
“Someone was waiting downstairs.”
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
“What did they want?”
She placed an envelope on his desk.
“They left this.”
Thomas opened it.
Inside was a photograph of Lily.
At school.
Walking beside her teacher.
On the back was written:
MIDNIGHT. BRING THE LEDGER.
Thomas sat down.
He knew exactly what would happen if he failed.
He had seen what Adrian Cross did to people who betrayed him.
Mason's wife had paid Adrian for six years.
But Vanessa wasn't his partner.
She was his hostage.
Thomas looked at the Bellmont file.
He remembered the night everything started.
Vanessa had discovered that Mason's father had created a secret trust.
Millions of dollars.
Protected from divorce.
Protected from creditors.
Protected from almost everyone.
Vanessa wanted access.
Adrian created the scheme.
Thomas handled the paperwork.
Then Emma's sister discovered the truth.
She planned to expose them.
So they panicked.
The fire was supposed to destroy documents.
Not kill anyone.
But something went wrong.
And ever since that night, Vanessa had been paying Adrian to keep silent.
Thomas knew the worst part.
Mason had never known.
He had been innocent.
A victim.
And tonight, he was finally going to find out.
Thomas drove to the Whitmore mansion.
When he entered, Mason was waiting.
Detective Collins stood beside him.
Emma was sitting near the fireplace.
Thomas stopped.
“You knew I'd come.”
Mason nodded.
“You always come when you're afraid.”
Thomas looked at him.
“I need to tell you everything.”
Emma stood.
“Start with my sister.”
Thomas closed his eyes.
“She was trying to expose Adrian Cross.”
“And Vanessa?”
“She helped him.”
Emma's face hardened.
“How?”
“Money laundering. False trusts. Fake invoices. Shell companies.”
Mason stared at Thomas.
“You used my company.”
“Yes.”
“How much?”
Thomas didn't answer.
“How much?”
“Approximately twelve million.”
Mason stepped forward.
“You stole twelve million dollars from me?”
“Not directly.”
“That is not an answer.”
Thomas looked at Emma.
“Your sister found out. She copied the records.”
Emma's voice shook.
“What happened?”
Thomas swallowed.
“She was supposed to disappear.”
“She died.”
“I know.”
“Was Vanessa there?”
Thomas looked down.
“Yes.”
Emma's eyes filled.
“Did she kill her?”
“No.”
That answer came quickly.
Too quickly.
Emma noticed.
“So who did?”
Thomas stared toward the window.
“Adrian.”
The room went silent.
Mason clenched his fists.
“And Vanessa stayed silent?”
“She was terrified.”
“She watched my wife?”
“No. She watched Adrian.”
Mason turned away.
Then Lily appeared.
She walked into the room holding her stuffed elephant.
“Mr. Thomas?”
Thomas froze.
“Hi, Lily.”
The girl looked at him.
“You're the bad man.”
Everyone stopped.
Mason crouched.
“What did you say?”
Lily pointed at Thomas.
“Mommy said never let Mr. Thomas see me.”
Thomas went pale.
Mason stood.
“Why?”
Lily shrugged.
“Because he makes people disappear.”
Thomas's face collapsed.
“Where did she hear that?”
Lily answered innocently.
“Mommy told me.”
Emma stared at Mason.
Vanessa wasn't only hiding secrets.
She had been preparing Lily for something.
Thomas reached into his coat.
“I brought the ledger.”
He placed it on the table.
Mason opened it.
The first page contained a list of accounts.
The second contained names.
The third contained dates.
Then Mason stopped.
One name appeared again and again.
MASON WHITMORE.
But beside Mason's name was something impossible.
DECEASED BENEFICIARY.
Mason stared.
“I wasn't dead.”
Thomas whispered:
“No.”
Emma leaned over the table.
“Then why does the document say you were?”
May you like
Thomas looked at both of them.
“Because six years ago, someone planned for you to die too.”
