Chapter 10 - THE WOMAN WHO HIRED ME TO FIND THE LEDGER
Karen had hired me because of my father.
Everything else had been theater.
My interview.
The promotions.
The charity gala.
The portfolio assignment.
All of it.
She kept the gun aimed at Victor.
“Move.”
He didn't.
Karen sighed.
“You always were stubborn.”
Victor’s expression changed.
“You know me?”
“For years.”
She looked toward me.
“Hazel, your father hid the original ledger somewhere only you could access.”
“I don't know where it is.”
“Yes, you do.”
“No.”
Karen smiled.
“You've had it since college.”
My heartbeat accelerated.
“What?”
She nodded toward my wrist.
I looked down.
My father’s old watch.
Cheap leather strap.
Scratched face.
I'd worn it for fourteen years.
My throat tightened.
“No.”
Karen laughed.
“Nathan loved hiding information in obvious places.”
Victor glanced toward me.
I removed the watch.
The back plate had never opened properly.
Elena used a small tool from Dr. Patel’s kit.
The case clicked.
Inside was a paper-thin encrypted chip.
My father had hidden the original ledger inside the watch I wore every day.
Karen’s eyes brightened.
“There.”
Victor raised his gun.
Karen immediately aimed at me.
“Don't.”
Everything stopped.
Then she said:
“Give it to me, Hazel.”
I stared.
“No.”
Her jaw tightened.
“Your father said the same thing.”
My stomach dropped.
“You were there?”
Silence.
Then Karen smiled.
“I drove the second car.”
My hands began shaking.
Dad’s crash.
The rain.
The police report saying no other vehicles were involved.
“You killed him.”
“I didn't touch his car.”
“But you were there.”
“Yes.”
“Who did?”
Her eyes moved toward the door.
“Ask Catherine.”
Victor’s face changed.
Then an alarm sounded outside.
The authorities monitoring the operation had moved in.
Karen panicked.
Victor stepped sideways.
I dropped.
A shot cracked.
The bullet hit the wall.
Victor tackled Karen.
Elena kicked the weapon away.
Seconds later, officers entered.
Karen was restrained.
Nobody else was shot.
I sat on the floor clutching Dad’s watch.
My hands wouldn't stop shaking.
Victor crouched beside me.
He didn't touch me.
“Hazel?”
I looked up.
For the first time, I saw him differently.
Not mafia boss.
Not dangerous stranger.
My brother.
A brother I never knew existed.
I laughed through tears.
“This is insane.”
He nodded.
“Yes.”
Then Elena sat beside us.
“So we're siblings.”
I looked at her.
“Apparently.”
She smiled weakly.
“Mom is going to have a difficult Thanksgiving.”
I burst out laughing.
Maybe because if I didn't, I would collapse.
Then Victor's phone rang.
His attorney.
Catherine had disappeared.
Graham Mercer had been detained.
Karen was talking.
And the original ledger was finally safe.
But before she was taken away, Karen looked at me.
“Hazel.”
I turned.
She smiled.
“Your father didn't die because of the ledger.”
My stomach tightened.
“Then why?”
“Because he found Catherine's second daughter.”
I stared.
“What second daughter?”
Karen laughed.
“Elena isn't Catherine’s only other girl.”
Victor and Elena went still.
Then Karen whispered:
May you like
“There's another sister.”
And according to her, that woman had been living inside the Castle family for years.
