Chapter 4: The Ledger Nobody Was Supposed to Find
The storage facility sat behind a row of abandoned warehouses, its corrugated metal gates shining beneath the afternoon sun.
Marcus had driven through a row of abandoned warehouses, its corrugated metal gates shining beneath the afternoon sun.
Marcus had driven through Charleston countless times, but he had never noticed the place.
It was the kind of building people forgot existed until they needed somewhere to hide something.
Charleston countless times, but he had never noticed the place.
It was the kind of building people forgot existed until they needed somewhere to hide something.
Daniel parked near the entrance.
Evelyn climbed out of the passenger seat, clutching her handbag against her side.
“Your father came here twiceDaniel parked near the entrance.
Evelyn climbed out of the passenger seat, clutching her handbag against her side.
“Your father came here twice a month,” she said.
“He always claimed he was checking old business records.””
Marcus held up a month,” she said.
“He always claimed he was checking old business records.””
Marcus held up the brass key.
“Did you ever ask what he kept here?””
“He told the brass key.
“Did you ever ask what he kept here?””
“He told me it was insurance.””
“Against what?””
She looked at him.
“Against people who thought family loyalty meant keeping their secrets.””
The words followed me it was insurance.””
“Against what?””
She looked at him.
“Against people who thought family loyalty meant keeping their secrets.””
The words followed him through the gate.
A clerk behind the reception desk checked Marcus's identification, then studied the key.
“Unit 214 him through the gate.
A clerk behind the reception desk checked Marcus's identification, then studied the key.
“Unit 214,” she said.
“Your father paid for it annually. The account has been dormant since his death.””
“Has anyone,” she said.
“Your father paid for it annually. The account has been dormant since his death.””
“Has anyone accessed it recently?””
The clerk consulted her computer.
“One visitor last week.””
Marcus's accessed it recently?””
The clerk consulted her computer.
“One visitor last week.””
Marcus's pulse quickened.
“Who?””
“The authorization is under Nathan Whitmore.””
Daniel sw pulse quickened.
“Who?””
“The authorization is under Nathan Whitmore.””
Daniel swore under his breath.
Marcus leaned across the counter.
“When did he comeore under his breath.
Marcus leaned across the counter.
“When did he come?””
“Tuesday afternoon. He presented a power of attorney document.””
“I never gave him power of attorney.””
The clerk looked uncomfortable.
“I can only tell you what was submitted.””
“Do?””
“Tuesday afternoon. He presented a power of attorney document.””
“I never gave him power of attorney.””
The clerk looked uncomfortable.
“I can only tell you what was submitted.””
“Do you still have a copy?””
“I can print the visitor record. For you still have a copy?””
“I can print the visitor record. For the document itself, I'll need my manager's approval.””
“Please get your manager.””
She the document itself, I'll need my manager's approval.””
“Please get your manager.””
She disappeared into a back office.
Daniel turned toward Marcus.
“If Nathan has already been inside, he may disappeared into a back office.
Daniel turned toward Marcus.
“If Nathan has already been inside, he may have taken the ledger.””
“Then we'll find out.””
They followed a security guard down a narrow corridor.
have taken the ledger.””
“Then we'll find out.””
They followed a security guard down a narrow corridor.
Unit 214 was at the end.
Marcus inserted the brass key into the lock.
It turned smoothlyUnit 214 was at the end.
Marcus inserted the brass key into the lock.
It turned smoothly.
He pulled up the metal door.
Inside sat three cardboard boxes, an old wooden desk, and a.
He pulled up the metal door.
Inside sat three cardboard boxes, an old wooden desk, and a steel filing cabinet.
Nothing appeared disturbed.
Marcus stepped inside.
The air smelled of dust, steel filing cabinet.
Nothing appeared disturbed.
Marcus stepped inside.
The air smelled of dust, paper, and old wood.
On the desk lay a framed photograph of his father standing between his two sons at paper, and old wood.
On the desk lay a framed photograph of his father standing between his two sons at the opening of their first warehouse.
Nathan was twenty-six, broad-shouldered and the opening of their first warehouse.
Nathan was twenty-six, broad-shouldered and smiling.
Marcus was twenty-two, his arm draped around his brother's shoulders.
Their father stood behind them with both hands resting on their backs.
smiling.
Marcus was twenty-two, his arm draped around his brother's shoulders.
Their father stood behind them with both hands resting on their backs.
Marcus picked up the photograph.
He remembered that day.
The company had nearly collapsed the previous winter. Nathan had negotiated a criticalMarcus picked up the photograph.
He remembered that day.
The company had nearly collapsed the previous winter. Nathan had negotiated a critical contract, and Marcus had worked eighteen-hour days to get the warehouse operational.
Their contract, and Marcus had worked eighteen-hour days to get the warehouse operational.
Their father had called them his greatest achievement.
How could a family father had called them his greatest achievement.
How could a family that had stood together in that photograph end up here?
“Marcus,” Daniel called.
that had stood together in that photograph end up here?
“Marcus,” Daniel called.
He was examining the filing cabinet.
“Look at this.””
The cabinet had five drawers. Four were locked.
The fifth contained old invoices, insuranceHe was examining the filing cabinet.
“Look at this.””
The cabinet had five drawers. Four were locked.
The fifth contained old invoices, insurance policies, and handwritten notes.
Marcus searched the papers until he found a small envelope policies, and handwritten notes.
Marcus searched the papers until he found a small envelope bearing his father's name.
Inside was a list of dates and amounts.
Each entry corresponded to a payment made from a company account into a private consulting bearing his father's name.
Inside was a list of dates and amounts.
Each entry corresponded to a payment made from a company account into a private consulting firm.
The firm was called Whitmore Advisory Group.
Marcus frowned.
“Have you ever heard of this company?””
Daniel examined firm.
The firm was called Whitmore Advisory Group.
Marcus frowned.
“Have you ever heard of this company?””
Daniel examined the page.
“No. But look at the dates.””
The payments began six months before their father's death.
They the page.
“No. But look at the dates.””
The payments began six months before their father's death.
They increased sharply during the final month.
Then, three days before the funeral increased sharply during the final month.
Then, three days before the funeral, they stopped.
Marcus took out his phone and photographed every page.
“Who owned the firm?””
Daniel, they stopped.
Marcus took out his phone and photographed every page.
“Who owned the firm?””
Daniel searched the name online, then looked up.
“It was registered to a company in searched the name online, then looked up.
“It was registered to a company in Delaware. The listed manager was Richard Cole.””
The attorney who had prepared the suspicious trust documents.
Marcus felt the pieces begin Delaware. The listed manager was Richard Cole.””
The attorney who had prepared the suspicious trust documents.
Marcus felt the pieces begin to connect.
“Dad discovered the payments.””
“And somebody wanted to connect.
“Dad discovered the payments.””
“And somebody wanted him to stop asking questions,” Daniel replied.
Evelyn stood beside the cabinet, staring at the papers him to stop asking questions,” Daniel replied.
Evelyn stood beside the cabinet, staring at the papers.
“Your father told me he was worried about a leak inside the company. I thought he meant confidential.
“Your father told me he was worried about a leak inside the company. I thought he meant confidential contracts.””
“Maybe he meant money,” Marcus said.
He searched the desk drawers.
The first contained pens and old receipts.
The second held a collection contracts.””
“Maybe he meant money,” Marcus said.
He searched the desk drawers.
The first contained pens and old receipts.
The second held a collection of keys.
The third was empty.
Then he noticed a narrow wooden panel beneath the desktop.
He pressed against it.
Nothing happened.
Daniel crouched beside him.
of keys.
The third was empty.
Then he noticed a narrow wooden panel beneath the desktop.
He pressed against it.
Nothing happened.
Daniel crouched beside him.
“Try the brass key.””
Marcus inserted it into a small hole hidden beneath the desk's edge.
A click sounded.
The“Try the brass key.””
Marcus inserted it into a small hole hidden beneath the desk's edge.
A click sounded.
The panel slid open.
Inside lay a thick black ledger wrapped in brown paper.
For a moment, Marcus simply stared at it.
Then he lifted it carefully onto the desk.
His father's handwriting filled panel slid open.
Inside lay a thick black ledger wrapped in brown paper.
For a moment, Marcus simply stared at it.
Then he lifted it carefully onto the desk.
His father's handwriting filled the pages.
Dates. Amounts. Names.
And next to several entries the pages.
Dates. Amounts. Names.
And next to several entries, short notes written in red ink.
*Unauthorized transfer.*
*Duplicate authorization.*
**Nathan, short notes written in red ink.
*Unauthorized transfer.*
*Duplicate authorization.*
*Nathan—verify signature.*
Marcus's fingers went numb.
He turned another page.
A—verify signature.**
Marcus's fingers went numb.
He turned another page.
A series of payments had been made to Whitmore Advisory Group using signatures that appeared to belong to their father.
But the dates told a different story.
Several series of payments had been made to Whitmore Advisory Group using signatures that appeared to belong to their father.
But the dates told a different story.
Several transfers had been authorized on days when his father had been hospitalized.
One had been recorded transfers had been authorized on days when his father had been hospitalized.
One had been recorded three days after his death.
“That can't be right,” Daniel whispered.
Marcus checked the page again.
The payment was real. The account number matched the three days after his death.
“That can't be right,” Daniel whispered.
Marcus checked the page again.
The payment was real. The account number matched the company's records.
And the authorization bore Nathan's initials.
Evelyn covered her mouth.
“My God.””
Marcus flipped through the remaining entries company's records.
And the authorization bore Nathan's initials.
Evelyn covered her mouth.
“My God.””
Marcus flipped through the remaining entries.
The last page contained a handwritten note.
*If this book is found after my death, do not trust the first person who claims to know why.
The last page contained a handwritten note.
If this book is found after my death, do not trust the first person who claims to know why I kept it.
Below that was a name.
Not Nathan's.
Not Richard Cole's.
A name Marcus had not seen I kept it.*
Below that was a name.
Not Nathan's.
Not Richard Cole's.
A name Marcus had not seen in years.
*Dr. Samuel Reed.*
His father's personal physician.
Marcus looked at his mother.
“Who is Dr. Reed?””
Evelyn's expression changed.
“He was your father's doctor in years.
*Dr. Samuel Reed.*
His father's personal physician.
Marcus looked at his mother.
“Who is Dr. Reed?””
Evelyn's expression changed.
“He was your father's doctor for nearly fifteen years.””
“Is he still practicing?””
“No. He retired shortly after your father died.””
“Did Dad trust for nearly fifteen years.””
“Is he still practicing?””
“No. He retired shortly after your father died.””
“Did Dad trust him?””
“Completely.””
Marcus looked back at the ledger.
“Then why him?””
“Completely.””
Marcus looked back at the ledger.
“Then why is his name here?””
A metallic crash sounded from the corridor.
Daniel spun toward the door.
“Someone's coming.””
is his name here?””
A metallic crash sounded from the corridor.
Daniel spun toward the door.
“Someone's coming.””
Footsteps approached.
Fast.
Marcus closed the ledger and slipped it into his jacketFootsteps approached.
Fast.
Marcus closed the ledger and slipped it into his jacket.
A man appeared at the entrance, wearing a dark suit and holding a folded document.
A man appeared at the entrance, wearing a dark suit and holding a folded document.
“Mr. Whitmore,” he said.
“I'm afraid you need to leave that ledger where it is.””
Marcus recognized him from the security.
“Mr. Whitmore,” he said.
“I'm afraid you need to leave that ledger where it is.””
Marcus recognized him from the security footage.
Richard Cole.
The attorney who had helped Nathan prepare the transfer documents.
Marcus stepped between him and the ledger.
“Give me one reason I footage.
Richard Cole.
The attorney who had helped Nathan prepare the transfer documents.
Marcus stepped between him and the ledger.
“Give me one reason I should listen to you.””
Cole smiled without warmth.
“Because your father didn't die of natural causes.””
Evelyn gasped.
Daniel moved toward Marcus.
should listen to you.””
Cole smiled without warmth.
“Because your father didn't die of natural causes.””
Evelyn gasped.
Daniel moved toward Marcus.
Cole continued.
“And if you take that book out of this building, you'll be the next person accused of killingCole continued.
May you like
“And if you take that book out of this building, you'll be the next person accused of killing him.””
him.””
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