Chapter 9 - THE RED BOOK
Federal agents reached the cemetery before sunrise.
Ruth insisted on coming.
So did I.
The twins stayed under protection.
Nobody disturbed the grave itself.
Instead, investigators found a weatherproof container hidden inside the stone base of a memorial bench beside it.
Inside was a red ledger.
Every payment was there.
Dates.
Accounts.
Names.
Northstar Defense Solutions had stolen more than forty-eight million dollars.
Rebecca had moved money through shell companies.
Grant had authorized payments.
And three people connected to the investigation had been bribed.
One name stunned everyone.
Detective Paul Vickers.
The officer who had investigated Ethan's crash.
Suddenly, the missing evidence made sense.
The accident report.
The incomplete photographs.
The failure to examine Grant's whereabouts.
Ethan hadn't simply been murdered.
His death had been buried.
But Grant still had one advantage.
He was gone.
So was Rebecca.
Federal agents issued warrants.
Airports were alerted.
Border crossings monitored.
I returned to the twins.
Owen was drawing.
He handed me the picture.
Four people.
Lily.
Owen.
Ruth.
And me.
I stared at it.
“Who's this?”
He pointed at me like the answer was obvious.
“You.”
“I know that.”
I smiled.
“Why am I in the picture?”
“Because you're staying.”
The smile disappeared from my face.
Children hear promises differently than adults.
To them, forever isn't an expression.
It's a contract.
That afternoon, Ruth asked me to walk outside.
“I want custody.”
“You should.”
“But I'm sixty-eight.”
“You're their grandmother.”
“And you're the person they look for every time a door opens.”
I didn't respond.
She studied me.
“You don't have children, do you?”
“No.”
“Ever married?”
“Once.”
“What happened?”
“Army happened.”
She nodded.
Then she said,
“Maybe life isn't finished surprising you.”
Before I could answer, Marco came running outside.
“Sir.”
His expression told me everything.
“What happened?”
“Rebecca called.”
“From where?”
“We don't know.”
“What does she want?”
Marco looked toward the building.
“The twins.”
“And if she doesn't get them?”
May you like
His voice dropped.
“She says Grant will kill Ruth.”
