Chapter 15 - THE LIST
For the next two weeks, I lived in my study. Julian’s phone contained names, dates, payments. I cross-referenced every entry. Every bank transfer. Every meeting.
Slowly, a picture emerged. A ring of powerful people. Politicians. Judges. Police officials. All paid by Julian to look the other way. To falsify reports. To keep Sarah hidden. To protect Nora.
And at the very top… a name I never expected.
My father’s oldest friend. My godfather. Roland Vane.
I stared at the screen. Roland had attended my wedding. Held Lily at her christening. Comforted me after the fire.
He had also been the one who introduced Julian to me. Who recommended him for the job. Who told me to trust him.
Everything connected back to Roland.
My phone rang. Roland’s name on the screen.
My hand trembled as I answered.
“Ethan,” he said warmly. “I hear you have had quite the ordeal. Is there anything I can do to help?”
I gripped the phone tight.
“Yes,” I said quietly. “You can tell me why you paid Julian two million dollars the day after my wife supposedly died.”
Silence.
May you like
Then Roland’s voice dropped. No longer warm. No longer kind.
“Meet me at the old boathouse on Blackwood River,” he said. “Alone. And bring nothing. If you want the truth… come alone.”
