Chapter 5 - The First Ledger
Downstairs, Eleanor sat in her study surrounded by lawyers.
She had changed.
The confidence was gone.
Her hands trembled.
"Call the board."
"We already did," her attorney said.
"And?"
He avoided her eyes.
"They're not answering."
Eleanor stood.
"Then call the banks."
"Your accounts are frozen."
"Call the governor."
"We have."
"And?"
"No response."
Eleanor stared at him.
"What about Victoria?"
Her attorney hesitated.
"She acquired controlling interest in Vance Industries this morning."
Silence.
Eleanor slowly sat down.
"How?"
A man entered carrying a black leather case.
Marcus Hale.
Her chief legal advisor for twenty years.
He placed the case on the desk.
"I warned you."
Eleanor looked up.
"You?"
Marcus swallowed.
"I told you she was preparing."
Eleanor opened the case.
Inside was a ledger.
Old.
Yellowed.
Handwritten.
She recognized it instantly.
Her face changed.
"Where did you get this?"
Marcus whispered:
"From the old family archives."
Eleanor stood abruptly.
"Destroy it."
Marcus didn't move.
"Why?"
"Because it contains the truth."
Eleanor stared at him.
"The truth about what?"
Marcus looked toward the hallway.
"The night your sister's mother disappeared."
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For the first time that day, Eleanor looked truly terrified.
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