"No. But sometimes I feel like the only thing I remember clearly is the night he died."
They moved toward the staircase.
Claire led them to the roof access door.
It was difficult to open, but eventually the old mechanism gave way.
The roof was covered in leaves and broken branches. At one corner stood a small wooden structure Thomas had built years earlier.
Claire knelt beside it.
She removed several loose boards.
Beneath them was a metal box.
The key was taped to the underside of the roof railing.
She opened the box.
Inside was a thick black ledger.
The original financial records.
Claire turned the first page.
Names. Dates. Amounts. Signatures.
Everything was there.
But beneath the ledger was another envelope.
It contained a photograph of Emily standing beside Evelyn Blackwood.
On the back, Emily had written:
SHE THINKS I'M WORKING FOR HER. LET HER THINK THAT.
Daniel looked at the photograph.
"Emily was playing her."
Claire nodded.
"She was trying to get close enough to expose everyone."
A phone rang.
It was the same unknown number.
Claire answered.
"Emily?"
"Did you find it?"
"Yes."
"Good. Listen carefully. Evelyn knows about the house. She has people watching the road."
"Where are you?"
"The estate. In the east wing."
"Are you safe?"
Emily laughed softly, but there was no happiness in it.
"No. Not really."
Claire closed her eyes.
"I'm coming."
"Claire, wait. You need to understand something. Marcus helped me escape once, but he also gave Evelyn information about Father. He was responsible for part of what happened."
"Why are you still with him?"
"Because he knows where the original recording is. And because he believes Evelyn will kill his daughter if he betrays her completely."
Claire looked at Daniel.
"We're coming to get you."
"Bring the ledger. But don't hand it to Evelyn."
The call ended.
Daniel examined the street below.
"There are two vehicles at the end of the road."
Claire looked over the roof.
Black SUVs.
The men inside were watching the house.
"We've been found."
Daniel called Hayes.
The captain answered immediately.
"Where are you?"
"At the Morgan house. We found the ledger. Evelyn's men are outside."
"Leave through the rear entrance. I'll arrange a team."
Claire took the ledger.
"We're not waiting."
"Claire, don't do anything reckless."
"Then help us."
There was a long pause.
Finally, Hayes said:
"I'm coming."
They escaped through the back of the property and reached the car.
The Blackwood estate stood on a hill beyond the industrial district. Its gates were guarded, and security cameras covered every entrance.
Hayes arrived with two officers he believed he could trust.
He gave them a plan.
The officers would secure the main entrance while Daniel and Claire entered through the eastern service road. Michael would remain in contact from the vehicle.
But before they reached the estate, Hayes received a call.
He answered.
His expression changed.
"What happened?"
The officer on the other end spoke rapidly.
Hayes looked toward Daniel.
"Bennett's transfer has been interrupted."
Daniel frowned.
"How?"
"An armed convoy stopped the transport vehicle. Bennett escaped."
Claire felt a cold wave pass through her.
"Evelyn has him."
Hayes nodded.
"She's bringing him here."
The convoy arrived at the estate just after midnight.
Two vehicles entered the grounds.
Bennett stepped out of the first, wearing handcuffs and a dark coat. A guard held his arm.
Evelyn appeared at the top of the entrance steps.
She looked calm.
Almost amused.
"Chief Bennett," she said. "You look terrible."
Bennett glared at her.
"You promised I would be protected."
"I promised you would be useful."
She turned toward the guards.
"Take him inside."
Claire and Daniel entered through a side door.
They moved through a narrow corridor and reached a room overlooking the main hall.
Below them, Evelyn was speaking to Bennett.
"You should have handled Thomas Morgan properly," she said.
Bennett laughed bitterly.
"I did what you asked."
"You left too many loose ends."
"You told me the family would be taken care of."
Evelyn stepped closer.
"Your mistake was believing that I cared about your family."
Bennett stared at her.
Then he laughed.
"You really think you're going to walk away from this?"
Evelyn's expression hardened.
"I already have."
A door opened behind them.
Marcus entered.
He looked exhausted.
"Emily is ready," he said.
Evelyn nodded.
"Bring her."
A moment later, Emily appeared.
Claire nearly called out, but Daniel caught her arm.
Her sister looked thinner than she remembered. Her hair was shorter, and there were faint marks on her wrists.
But she was alive.
Emily stood in front of Evelyn.
"Where is the ledger?"
Evelyn smiled.
"That's a question I was about to ask you."
"I don't have it."
"Don't lie to me."
Emily looked toward Marcus.
"Tell her."
Marcus lowered his eyes.
Evelyn slapped him across the face.
"You're useless."
Then she turned back to Emily.
"Your father thought he could destroy me. Your sister thinks she can do the same. Neither of you understands how the world works."
Emily lifted her chin.
"My father understood perfectly. That's why you killed him."
Evelyn's smile disappeared.
"Your father was an obstacle."
"He was a good man."
"He was a foolish man."
From the upper corridor, Claire stepped into view.
"No."
Everyone looked up.
Claire held the ledger in both hands.
"My father was a good man. And he was right about you."
Evelyn stared at her.
For the first time, the confident businesswoman seemed uncertain.
"Claire Morgan."
"Let my sister go."
Evelyn laughed.
"You're carrying something very valuable."
Claire looked down at the ledger.
"This is what you wanted."
"Give it to me."
"Release Emily first."
Evelyn raised one hand.
The guards aimed their weapons.
Daniel stepped into the corridor behind Claire.
"Nobody moves."
Marcus slowly reached toward his jacket.
Evelyn noticed.
"Don't even think about it."
Marcus stopped.
Claire looked at him.
"You helped them destroy my family."
Marcus's face tightened.
"I know."
"Then why should I trust you?"
"You shouldn't."
He slowly removed a small recording device from his pocket.
"But you should listen."
He placed it on the table.
A recording began.
It was Bennett's voice.
He was speaking to Evelyn about Thomas's murder, explaining how the scene would be staged and how the investigation would be redirected.
Then another voice appeared.
Hayes.
He was heard giving Bennett the location of Thomas's meeting.