Chapter 4 - THE BLUE LEDGER
The key opened a cabinet beneath Julian’s desk.
Inside lay a blue leather ledger, a flash drive, and several folded
documents sealed in plastic. Claire recognized Andrew’s handwriting on
the first page.
“He knew I might come,” she whispered.
Julian looked at the ledger. “He trusted you.”
“He trusted very few people after the crash.”
Claire opened it. The first entries were ordinary maintenance notes:
vehicle inspections, access-card replacements, alarm tests, and
equipment orders. Then the writing became urgent.
Emergency chair battery replaced without authorization.
Rear brake cable tension inconsistent.
Second access key copied.
Medical transport route altered.
Claire looked up.
“What does this mean?”
“Someone had access to my chair, my vehicle, and my medical transport
schedule.”
“Who inspected your chair after the crash?”
“Gabriel’s technicians.”
“So he controlled the evidence.”
Julian’s face grew still.
“He controlled nearly everything.”
The flash drive contained scanned invoices and audio files. Julian
connected it to an isolated computer. The first recording was short.
A man’s voice said, “The board won’t wait forever. If he doesn’t sign,
we move to the next stage.”
Another voice replied, “He’ll sign when he understands he has no
alternative.”
Claire recognized the second voice.
Victoria.
Julian stopped the recording.
“My sister,” he said.
The next file contained a conversation between Victoria and Gabriel.
Victoria asked whether the medical assessment had been completed.
Gabriel replied that the doctors would not certify Julian as incapable
while he could still make decisions independently.
“Then we need a different doctor,” Victoria said.
“We already have one.”
Claire looked at Julian.
“They were trying to have you declared incapable of managing the
company.”
“Or legally unfit to control the family trust. If that happened,
Victoria would become temporary trustee.”
“And Gabriel?”
“He would keep his position and gain control of the security division.”
Claire opened another file.
Gabriel’s voice was clear.
“The old man won’t make it through another year if he keeps refusing
treatment.”
Victoria replied, “I don’t want him dead. I want him out of the way.”
“Those are becoming the same thing.”
The recording ended.
A knock sounded at the office door.
“Julian?” Gabriel called. “The board members are waiting. We need to
discuss the incident.”
Julian looked at Claire.
“Put everything back. Don’t let him know what we found.”
He rolled toward the door and opened it.
Gabriel stood with two security officers.
“Sir, I need the chair for inspection.”
“Why?”
“Standard procedure.”
“Who ordered it?”
“I did.”
Julian smiled faintly.
“Then you can inspect it in front of my attorney.”
Gabriel’s expression tightened.
“Of course.”
May you like
As he turned away, Claire noticed a small key in his right hand. It was
the same shape as the one Andrew had hidden behind the photograph.
