Chapter 7 - The Name in the Ledger
Two detectives entered the house ten minutes later.
Detective Sarah Nolan introduced herself first. Her partner, Detective Morris, remained near the doorway, watching Daniel carefully.
“We received a report of assault involving a vulnerable adult,” Nolan said.
Daniel immediately pointed at Edward.
“This lawyer is manipulating my mother.”
Margaret stood.
“No one is manipulating me.”
Detective Nolan looked at the bruise, then at the broken glasses sealed inside an evidence bag.
“Mrs. Collins, would you like to make a formal statement?”
Daniel moved closer.
“Mom, don't do this.”
Michael blocked his path without touching him.
Margaret looked at her son.
She searched his face for regret.
There was fear.
There was anger.
There was calculation.
But regret was nowhere to be found.
“Yes,” she said. “I would like to make a statement.”
Linda grabbed Daniel's arm.
“You said she would never fight back.”
The room went still.
Daniel turned toward her.
“Be quiet.”
Detective Morris noticed the exchange.
“What did you mean by that?”
Linda's lips parted, but no answer came.
At that moment, Rebecca Owens arrived from the Collins headquarters carrying several sealed files.
She greeted Margaret respectfully before speaking to Edward.
“We found something connected to Northbridge Consulting.”
Daniel stared at the files.
Rebecca continued.
“The company was created eleven years ago using forged authorization from the Collins Trust.”
Edward's expression changed.
“Who signed the registration?”
Rebecca opened the first file.
“The signature appears to belong to Margaret Collins.”
Margaret shook her head.
“I never signed anything.”
“We believe the signature was copied from medical forms.”
Daniel looked toward the window.
Detective Nolan noticed.
Rebecca removed a ledger.
“Northbridge received payments from shell companies connected to several failed property deals. Someone has been using Mrs. Collins's identity to guarantee loans.”
Margaret felt the room tilt.
“How much?”
Rebecca hesitated.
“Potentially more than twelve million dollars.”
Linda released Daniel's arm.
Her face had gone completely white.
Margaret looked at both of them.
“You stole my name.”
Daniel suddenly shouted.
“You don't understand what Dad left behind!”
Everyone froze.
Margaret stared at him.
“What did your father leave behind?”
Daniel realized too late that he had said too much.
Detective Morris stepped away from the door.
Rebecca slowly opened the ledger to a marked page.
A handwritten note appeared beside one of the largest transfers.
PROJECT ASHES — PHASE ONE COMPLETE.
Edward read it twice.
Then he looked toward Michael.
“That is not part of Richard's trust plan.”
Michael's expression became tense.
“No. Protocol Ash was designed to protect Margaret.”
He turned the ledger around.
“Project Ashes appears to have been designed to destroy her.”
From somewhere upstairs, a floorboard creaked.
Everyone looked toward the staircase.
May you like
Margaret knew no one was supposed to be up there.
Then the attic door slowly began to open.
