Chapter 9 - Richard's Final Journal
While detectives secured the attic, Margaret entered Richard's old study.
Nothing inside had changed.
His favorite chair still faced the fireplace.
The shelves still carried hundreds of engineering books.
His fountain pen remained exactly where he had left it.
She gently ran her fingers across the desk.
A faint click echoed beneath the wood.
Michael immediately noticed.
"There."
Together they lifted a false drawer hidden beneath the desktop.
Inside rested a leather journal tied with a faded blue ribbon.
Margaret recognized it instantly.
Richard's handwriting covered the first page.
"If you are reading this, my greatest fear has become reality."
Her hands began trembling.
Edward asked softly,
"Would you like me to read it?"
Margaret nodded.
Edward carefully opened the journal.
"Margaret,
If you ever activate Protocol Ash, it means someone close to you has crossed a line that can never be ignored.
I pray I am wrong.
But if Daniel ever chooses greed over family...
you must never protect him from the consequences."
Daniel suddenly shouted from the hallway.
"Stop reading!"
No one listened.
Edward continued.
"I discovered several years before my death that someone inside our own family had begun stealing confidential financial information.
I never identified the person.
Instead...
I built traps."
Michael looked up.
"Traps?"
Edward turned another page.
"Every hidden account.
Every shell corporation.
Every confidential contract contains invisible identifiers.
Anyone attempting to steal them will unknowingly expose themselves."
Rebecca's eyes widened.
"The forged trust documents..."
Michael finished her sentence.
"Were bait."
Edward nodded.
Richard had expected someone to try.
The journal continued.
"If this plan is ever activated...
look for the Blue Ledger."
Margaret frowned.
"The Blue Ledger?"
Edward flipped several pages.
"It contains the names of every person who knowingly betrayed this family."
Rebecca whispered,
"We've never found it."
Michael looked toward the attic.
"What if that's what someone has been searching for?"
At that exact moment...
A patrol officer entered carrying a sealed evidence bag.
"We found this behind the attic insulation."
May you like
Inside the bag...
lay a small blue key.
