CHAPTER 6 THE MAN EVERYONE THOUGHT HAD DISAPPEARED WALKED INTO HER OFFICE… WITH THE MISSING LEDGER
The next morning, Evelyn arrived early.
Only the cleaning staff had entered the building.
At exactly 7:15 A.M., security called.
"Ma'am... someone insists on seeing you."
"Who?"
"He says his name is Daniel Cross."
Rachel looked shocked.
"That's impossible."
Evelyn frowned.
"Who is Daniel?"
Rachel answered quietly,
"He was Hawthorne Development's chief financial officer."
"I thought he retired."
Rachel slowly shook her head.
"He disappeared."
Minutes later, an elderly man entered carrying a worn leather briefcase.
He looked exhausted.
As though he had spent years looking over his shoulder.
Daniel placed the briefcase on Evelyn's desk.
"I've been waiting a long time to meet a Mercer."
He opened it.
Inside was an old accounting ledger.
Not digital.
Handwritten.
Every hidden transaction.
Every fake company.
Every offshore payment.
Every forged signature.
Rachel flipped through the pages, growing paler with every sheet.
"My God..."
Daniel nodded.
"I kept a copy."
"Why now?" Evelyn asked.
"Because your grandfather once saved my family."
Daniel smiled sadly.
"I promised him that if anyone ever tried to steal his legacy... I'd give the truth back to his granddaughter."
Before anyone could say another word, the building's fire alarm suddenly began blaring.
Employees rushed into the hallways.
Security shouted for everyone to evacuate.
Rachel looked out the office window.
Three black SUVs had just pulled into the underground garage.
Several masked men stepped out.
Daniel's face lost all color.
"They're here."
Evelyn frowned.
"Who?"
Daniel whispered only three words—
"They want the ledger."
The office lights flickered.
Someone pounded violently on the conference room door.
Rachel grabbed the ledger.
Evelyn instinctively lifted Lily into her arms.
Outside, heavy footsteps echoed through the hallway.
May you like
The doorknob slowly began to turn...
TO BE CONTINUED...
