Chapter 9 - THE ELEVEN PERCENT
I stared at the photograph until the faces blurred.
“No.”
Mara said nothing.
“Richard is not my father.”
“I didn’t say he was.”
“But Evan wants me to think he is.”
“Maybe.”
“Why?”
“To destabilize you.”
It sounded logical.
Which was exactly why I didn’t trust it.
My mother had lied about my father’s suspicions.
She had hidden a second ledger.
She knew Mercer.
She had been in the office with Evan and Richard years before my father died.
How many lies did love excuse before they became conspiracy?
I called her again.
This time she answered immediately.
“Lauren.”
“Who is my father?”
Silence.
That was the wrong response.
“Mom.”
“Please don’t do this over the phone.”
“Richard?”
“No.”
The force of her answer gave me air again.
“Then why is my birth certificate altered?”
“What?”
I explained the hotel.
The photograph.
The hidden eleven-percent trust.
She began crying.
“Your father should have told you.”
“Told me what?”
“The trust doesn’t belong to another person.”
“Then who?”
“You.”
I stared at Mara.
“That makes no sense.”
My mother continued.
“You own the eleven percent.”
“I already own forty-two percent.”
“Not the same way.”
“Explain.”
“The beneficiary was created under another name.”
“What name?”
My mother whispered, “Your biological name.”
A chill ran through me.
“What does that mean?”
“Lauren Hayes was not the name on your original birth certificate.”
I couldn’t breathe.
“What?”
“Your father adopted you when you were eleven months old.”
The world tilted.
The man whose company I inherited.
The man whose death shattered me.
The man I called Dad for twenty-eight years.
Not biological.
But still my father.
I forced myself to speak.
“Who was my biological father?”
“His name was Thomas Rourke.”
Mara stood suddenly.
I looked at her.
She knew the name.
“Mara?”
Her face had changed completely.
“Thomas Rourke founded Rourke Maritime.”
I knew the company.
Everyone in California finance did.
Shipping.
Ports.
Defense logistics.
It had collapsed after a federal corruption investigation almost thirty years earlier.
My mother continued.
“Thomas died before you were born.”
“How?”
“Officially?”
That word made my stomach twist.
“Yes.”
“Boating accident.”
Of course.
“What does any of this have to do with my father’s company?”
“Your father bought parts of Rourke Maritime after the collapse.”
Mara was already searching.
She found it.
Shell companies.
Holding entities.
Shipping licenses.
Port property.
My family fortune had been built partly from the remains of my biological father’s empire.
The sixty million dollars wasn’t the important part.
Evan’s words returned.
The company.
“What is in the ledger?” I asked.
My mother didn’t answer.
“Mom.”
“It contains records your father found after he bought the Rourke assets.”
“What records?”
“Payments.”
“To whom?”
“Judges. Officials. Contractors.”
Mara whispered, “Jesus.”
My mother continued.
“Your biological father wasn’t only running a shipping company.”
“What was he running?”
“I don’t know all of it.”
“Stop saying that!”
My voice echoed through the car.
“I was pushed out of a helicopter. Caleb has been kidnapped. My husband forged my signature. Richard may have helped him. I am finished with everyone knowing only part of the truth.”
My mother cried quietly.
Then she said:
“Thomas Rourke was cooperating with federal investigators before he died.”
Everything stopped.
“He was going to expose the entire network.”
“What network?”
“People who are still alive.”
My mouth went dry.
“And the ledger proves it?”
“Yes.”
“Where is it?”
She hesitated.
Then:
“Caleb has it.”
I stared at the phone.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“I gave it to him yesterday.”
Before my helicopter flight.
Before my supposed death.
“Why?”
“Because he called me.”
“What did he say?”
“He said Lauren is in danger.”
My brother knew before I boarded.
That realization hurt like betrayal.
“Why didn’t he warn me?”
“He tried.”
“No, he didn’t.”
“He sent you a message.”
“I got nothing.”
My mother went quiet.
Mara looked at my replacement phone.
Then at me.
“Evan had access to your devices.”
My stomach turned.
Maybe Caleb had warned me.
Maybe Evan deleted it.
I asked, “Where is Caleb taking the ledger?”
“I don’t know.”
Then a new call appeared on my screen.
CALEB.
I answered immediately.
“Caleb?”
Heavy breathing.
Then his voice.
“Lauren?”
He knew.
I started crying.
“I’m here.”
“Thank God.”
“Where are you?”
“Running.”
“From who?”
“Everybody.”
A car horn blasted near him.
“Caleb, listen to me. Ortiz can get you—”
“No police.”
“Why?”
“Because the ledger names cops too.”
Ortiz heard.
His face hardened.
Caleb continued.
“I got away from Evan.”
“Are you hurt?”
“Not bad.”
“Where is the ledger?”
“With me.”
“Come to Mara.”
“No.”
“Why?”
He went silent.
“Caleb?”
May you like
His next words were barely audible.
“Because Mara’s name is in it.”
