Chapter 5 - The recorder had one button.PLAY.
I pressed it.
Static filled the room.
Then my husband's voice emerged.
“If you're hearing this, Margaret, something has gone terribly wrong.”
I stopped breathing.
He had recorded this for me.
“I'm sorry I couldn't tell you everything.”
A pause.
“I thought I could solve it myself.”
My husband's voice sounded tired.
Afraid.
Then he said something that turned my blood cold.
“Do not trust Wesley.”
I closed my eyes.
The recorder continued.
“Not because he is bad.”
A pause.
“Because he is afraid.”
I leaned closer.
“Wesley knows what happened. He believes he can protect the family by cooperating with them. He is wrong.”
The recording crackled.
“They will promise him safety.”
Another pause.
“They will ask for the house.”
My hand covered my mouth.
“They may even convince him that selling it will save everyone.”
I whispered,
“Oh, God.”
My husband continued.
“The house contains evidence they need destroyed.”
My heart pounded.
Evidence.
In my house.
“What evidence?” I whispered.
The recording did not answer immediately.
Then my husband's voice returned.
“A ledger.”
I looked around the room.
“A paper ledger documenting every payment, every bribe, every false transfer.”
I nearly dropped the recorder.
“It's hidden somewhere they will never think to look.”
Static.
Then the final sentence.
“If they ever try to take the house, give the ledger to Daniel Mercer.”
The recording ended.
Silence.
I stared at the device.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
“Mrs. Carter.”
The voice was male.
Calm.
“You need to stop digging.”
“Who is this?”
“You don't want to know.”
“You broke into my house.”
“No.”
“The man in my study.”
“Marcus was retrieving something that belongs to us.”
“Nothing in my house belongs to you.”
A quiet laugh.
“You've already lost more than you realize.”
My heart tightened.
“What does that mean?”
“It means your son loves you.”
I said nothing.
“And he is willing to sacrifice you to keep you alive.”
“Don't threaten my son.”
“We're not threatening him.”
The voice softened.
“We're reminding him what happens when people disobey.”
The call ended.
I immediately called Wesley.
He answered on the fourth ring.
“Mom?”
“Are you alone?”
Silence.
“Wesley.”
“Yes.”
“Tell me the truth.”
“About what?”
“Your father's business.”
His breathing changed.
“Mom, this isn't a good time.”
“It never is.”
He said nothing.
“Did your father know Marcus was stealing from him?”
Silence.
“Wesley?”
“Yes.”
My chest tightened.
“Did you know?”
“I was fifteen.”
“You were twenty-six.”
Another silence.
I sat down.
“You lied to me for eight years.”
“I was trying to protect you.”
“By helping them?”
“I didn't help them.”
“You gave them access to my identity.”
His voice cracked.
“How did you find out?”
That question told me enough.
“You did.”
“No.”
“Then why are you scared?”
He whispered,
“Because you don't understand what they're capable of.”
I looked at the recorder.
“Your father recorded everything.”
Wesley stopped breathing.
“He left evidence.”
“Mom, where is it?”
I didn't answer.
“Mom?”
“I found the ledger.”
He whispered,
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because they'll kill you for it.”
The line went dead.
I stared at the phone.
Then someone knocked on my front door.
Three times.
I opened the curtain.
Wesley's SUV sat outside.
He was standing on the porch.
Alone.
I opened the door.
He looked exhausted.
“You have the ledger.”
I nodded.
He stepped inside.
“Where?”
I smiled faintly.
“Why?”
“Because if they find out you have it, they won't stop.”
I studied my son.
“Did you know they planned to kill me?”
His face broke.
“No.”
“You're lying.”
He looked away.
Then whispered,
“I knew they might.”
I stepped back.
He reached for me.
“Mom, listen.”
I slapped his hand away.
“You knew.”
“I was trying to buy time.”
“For what?”
“For you.”
He looked at me.
“And for Emily.”
My heart stopped.
“What about Emily?”
Wesley swallowed.
“They have her too.”
I stared at him.
“What do you mean?”
He pulled out his phone.
Opened a message.
A photograph appeared.
Emily.
Leaving work.
Taken from across the street.
Another image.
Emily at her apartment.
Another.
Emily sleeping.
I stared at them.
Wesley whispered,
“They've been watching all of us.”
Then his phone buzzed.
A new message arrived.
One sentence.
BRING YOUR MOTHER TO THE HOUSE TOMORROW NIGHT. COME ALONE.
Wesley looked at me.
Then another message appeared.
A photograph.
This time, it was my house.
Taken from outside.
May you like
And across the bottom were five words:
WE KNOW WHERE THE LEDGER IS.
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