Chapter 5 - The Room Behind the Library
My father's mansion had been in the news so often that I'd memorized its exterior without ever stepping inside.
That afternoon, I finally did.
Victor opened the door himself.
"You shouldn't be here."
"I know."
He looked at Blake.
"What did you tell her?"
Blake stepped forward.
"Enough."
Victor's jaw tightened.
"You're making a mistake."
"No," Blake said. "I made a mistake twenty years ago when I trusted you."
I looked between them.
"That's a conversation we'll have later."
Victor moved aside.
"Come in."
Lorraine was waiting in the library.
She rose slowly.
Her expression wasn't hostile.
It was terrified.
"Maya."
I looked at her.
"You knew."
She shook her head.
"Knew what?"
"About my mother."
Lorraine's mouth opened.
Victor interrupted.
"This isn't the place."
I turned to him.
"That phrase is becoming your favorite."
We entered the library.
Victor closed the door.
Then locked it.
"I want the ledger."
Lorraine looked at him.
"Victor."
My father stared at her.
"What?"
"You promised."
"Promised what?"
Lorraine's face went pale.
"That you wouldn't bring this here."
I took a step toward her.
"Bring what?"
She sat down.
"The truth."
The room went quiet.
She looked at me.
"Your mother found evidence of a procurement scheme."
"I know."
"No."
Her voice cracked.
"You know about the money. You don't know about the names."
"What names?"
"Politicians."
"Which politicians?"
"People who could make problems disappear."
Victor stepped forward.
"That's enough."
"No."
Lorraine stood.
"Twenty-six years ago, I believed Victor when he told me your mother was dangerous."
I stared at her.
"You helped him."
"I helped myself."
"What does that mean?"
She looked at Blake.
"My brother had been killed."
I froze.
"Daniel Voss."
She nodded.
"I believed your mother had something to do with it."
"She didn't."
"I know that now."
Victor looked away.
Lorraine continued.
"After Daniel died, he left records."
"Where?"
"In this house."
I looked around.
"You're saying the ledger is here."
Lorraine nodded.
Victor moved toward the wall.
"Stop."
I looked at him.
"You're not touching anything."
He gave me a bitter smile.
"You really are her daughter."
I ignored him.
"Where?"
Lorraine pointed toward an old bookcase.
"Behind the third panel."
Blake crossed the room.
He pressed the molding.
A section of the bookcase clicked.
Nothing happened.
Blake looked at me.
"There's another release."
Victor spoke softly.
"Under the desk."
I crouched.
Found a brass latch.
Pulled it.
The panel swung open.
A narrow passage appeared.
We stared into darkness.
"You've got to be kidding," Blake said.
I switched on my flashlight.
We walked inside.
The passage ended at a steel door.
Victor entered a code.
I grabbed his hand.
"How do you know the code?"
He looked at me.
"Because I built it."
The door opened.
Inside was a small room.
Boxes lined the walls.
Old contracts.
Photographs.
Hard drives.
Bank records.
Then I saw the ledger.
Black leather.
My mother's handwriting was pressed into the inside cover.
I reached for it.
Victor stopped me.
"No."
I turned.
"Why?"
"Because you don't know what happens after you read it."
"Let me guess. Not here."
His expression cracked.
"Maya, please."
It was the first time he'd ever said the word like that.
Not an order.
Not a dismissal.
A plea.
I pulled the ledger away.
Inside were names.
Dates.
Payment amounts.
Account numbers.
And notes.
Beside several names was a red symbol.
One name appeared more often than the others.
THOMAS REDD.
My stomach dropped.
Then I saw another.
MARCUS HALE.
I looked at the general's name for a long second.
Blake inhaled sharply.
Victor whispered:
"Now you understand."
I turned toward him.
"You lied."
"I didn't."
"You said Hale wasn't involved."
"I said he was involved in the investigation."
The distinction suddenly felt enormous.
I kept turning pages.
Then one entry stopped me.
MAYA CALDWELL.
Under it was an amount.
$250,000.
I stared.
"What is this?"
Victor closed his eyes.
"It's not what you think."
"Why is my name in your ledger?"
"Because that money was for you."
"Why?"
"To make sure you could disappear."
"What?"
He looked at me.
"Your mother knew they were coming."
My voice shook.
"Who?"
Victor answered:
"The people who killed Daniel Voss."
A noise came from the corridor.
Footsteps.
Blake spun around.
"Someone's coming."
The steel door slammed shut.
Then the lights went out.
May you like
A man's voice came through the darkness.
"Nobody leaves this room."
