Chapter 10 - The Woman They Tried to Blame
Ethan called Maria.
No answer.
Daniel called the safe residence.
Security responded.
Maria and Lily were inside.
Margaret was not.
The photograph had been manipulated.
Grace shook her head.
“She wants you frightened.”
“Why?”
“Because frightened people rush.”
Ethan looked at his mother.
“You know her.”
“I do.”
Margaret Sinclair had been one of Northstar’s earliest board members.
Respected.
Disciplined.
Almost maternal toward Ethan.
Grace explained that Margaret had worked with Richard’s original investment firm.
She had been the person who created the offshore fund.
Richard had not been the architect.
He had been the accountant.
“Margaret started everything,” Grace said.
Ethan felt sick.
Another trusted person.
Another mask.
The emergency board meeting began remotely.
Ethan joined from Northstar.
Margaret appeared on screen.
“Ethan, for your own protection, we believe you should temporarily step aside.”
“Because my wedding was interrupted?”
“Because hundreds of millions in illicit funds were discovered under your name.”
“You know those funds aren’t mine.”
“I know no such thing.”
Grace rolled into camera view.
Margaret’s expression cracked.
Only once.
Enough.
“Hello, Margaret,” Grace said.
The board erupted.
Ethan watched Margaret recover.
“You’re supposed to be dead.”
“So are many of your secrets.”
Grace uploaded the first Orion package.
Documents appeared on every director’s screen.
Margaret’s transfers.
Shell corporations.
Payments to Richard.
Payments to Michael.
The vote stopped.
Margaret disconnected.
Federal agents moved toward her known properties.
Ethan’s phone rang.
Maria.
He answered immediately.
“We’re safe,” she said.
“Stay there.”
“Lily wants to talk to you.”
A small voice came on.
“Mr. Ethan?”
“Yes?”
“Is Bunny in trouble?”
“No.”
“Are you?”
Ethan looked at Grace.
“Maybe a little.”
“I can draw you something.”
He smiled.
“I’d like that.”
Then Lily whispered, “The lady is here.”
Ethan’s smile vanished.
“What lady?”
“The wedding lady.”
“Vanessa?”
“No.”
He stood.
“What does she look like?”
“White hair.”
Grace heard.
Her face changed.
“Margaret.”
Ethan shouted into the phone.
“Maria, leave now!”
A crash sounded.
The call disconnected.
Daniel activated the safe residence feed.
Security guards lay unconscious.
A rear door stood open.
Maria and Lily were gone.
On the kitchen table sat Lily’s rabbit.
And one note.
ONE HOUR. ROSEWOOD.
Grace whispered, “She wants me.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m the only person who knows where the second ledger is.”
“Tell me.”
Grace shook her head.
“If I tell you, you become the target.”
“My three-year-old friend is already the target.”
The words stopped her.
Grace looked at Ethan.
Then smiled sadly.
“You always did inherit my stubbornness.”
“Where is it?”
“Your mother’s empty chair.”
Ethan frowned.
“At the wedding?”
“I put it there myself.”
The white rose.
The chair.
The symbol of Grace’s absence.
Inside the chair cushion was the second ledger.
Ethan almost laughed at the audacity.
Margaret had been sitting twenty feet away from the evidence that could destroy her.
They returned to Rosewood.
The ballroom was dark.
Wilted flowers lined the aisle.
Grace’s chair remained.
Ethan cut open the cushion.
A slim black book fell out.
Names filled the pages.
Margaret Sinclair.
Michael Trent.
Two senators.
Three bankers.
And Christian Vale.
At the end was a final note in Grace’s handwriting.
Richard tried to stop them.
Ethan stared.
Richard had not been the true villain.
He had been guilty.
But at some point, he had tried to get out.
That explained Grace’s mercy.
A speaker clicked.
Margaret’s voice.
“Bring the ledger to the chapel.”
Ethan carried it.
Daniel and federal agents positioned outside.
Grace insisted on coming.
“No.”
“This started with me.”
“It ends with me.”
“Ethan.”
“Mom, you already died twice. You’re done volunteering.”
Grace almost smiled.
He entered alone.
Maria sat beside Lily.
Both were unharmed.
Margaret stood behind them.
Michael was beside her.
Christian stood farther back.
Three enemies who no longer trusted one another.
That was their weakness.
Ethan held up the ledger.
“Let them go.”
Margaret smiled.
“You think this is a movie?”
“No.”
Ethan tossed the ledger onto the floor.
“That’s why I already scanned it.”
Michael turned toward Margaret.
“You said he wouldn’t.”
Christian laughed.
“Margaret always underestimated him.”
Margaret’s composure vanished.
She pointed her gun at Lily.
Ethan’s body went cold.
“Don’t.”
Maria moved in front of her daughter.
Margaret said, “Give me the digital copies.”
“I can’t. They’ve already gone to federal servers.”
Michael swore.
Christian stepped backward.
Everyone understood at once.
There was nothing left to bargain for.
Margaret understood too.
Her gun shifted.
Not toward Lily.
Toward Christian.
“You ruined everything.”
Christian raised his weapon.
Michael did the same.
Three conspirators.
Three guns.
Nobody trusted anyone.
Then Lily crawled beneath the pew.
Maria screamed her name.
A gun fired.
Ethan threw himself forward.
Someone fell.
May you like
And from the chapel doorway came Grace’s voice:
“Margaret, tell him who ordered his father’s disappearance.”
