Chapter 6 - THE LEDGER MY WIFE DIED PROTECTING
Elena had died for a ledger.
That was the truth hidden inside the files.
Not a paper notebook.
A digital record of military contracts, weapons shipments, shell companies, and criminal payments linking Arthur Cole to an international trafficking network.
My organization had moved freight for years.
Some legal.
Some not.
I had rules.
No children.
No trafficking.
No certain types of weapons.
Arthur apparently had his own rules.
None.
Elena discovered it after helping with charitable accounts connected to one of our foundations.
She followed payments.
Found names.
Then contacted Elias Ward.
Why Elias?
Because he’d retired into aviation security consulting in London after surviving the crash everyone believed killed him.
I watched the second video.
Elena spoke directly to the camera.
“Warren, I know what your world is.”
Her eyes were wet.
“I loved you anyway.”
My throat closed.
“But Arthur built something inside it that even you wouldn’t tolerate.”
I looked away.
She continued.
“I tried to tell you.”
A memory struck me.
Four years earlier.
Elena standing in my study.
“Warren, we need to talk about Arthur.”
I had been on the phone.
I kissed her forehead.
“Tomorrow.”
There was no tomorrow.
She died the next afternoon.
I covered my face.
The captain said nothing.
Then Elena’s voice continued.
“The ledger is in London. Elias knows where.”
My chest tightened.
“Arthur knows too.”
She looked frightened.
“If anything happens to me, protect Norah.”
The video ended.
I sat motionless.
For years, I believed Elena died because a truck driver lost control in the rain.
Now I knew someone had likely arranged it.
And that someone had helped raise my daughter afterward.
The aircraft suddenly dipped.
Not violently.
But enough.
The first officer cursed.
Another system warning appeared.
The captain stabilized the situation.
Then he looked toward me.
“We need to get down sooner.”
“How soon?”
“Very.”
The diversion airport was still reachable.
But the margin was shrinking.
Then Jillian entered.
Her face was pale.
“We have another medical emergency.”
My stomach tightened.
“Who?”
“Your daughter.”
The world stopped.
I was out of the cockpit before anyone could speak.
Norah lay across two seats.
Eyes closed.
Skin pale.
I dropped beside her.
“Norah!”
Jillian knelt.
“She suddenly became dizzy.”
My hands shook.
“What did she eat?”
“Nothing since the meal.”
“Drink?”
“Apple juice.”
I looked at the cup.
Then at Jillian.
“Where did it come from?”
Her face changed.
“Forward galley.”
I grabbed the cup.
Same place as the relief pilot’s coffee.
Then Norah opened her eyes.
“Dad?”
I almost collapsed with relief.
“I’m here.”
She whispered:
“My teddy bear smells funny.”
I stared.
Then looked at the bear.
Someone had handled it.
The seam I opened earlier had been resewn while I was in the cockpit.
And inside the stuffing, I felt something hard.
I opened it.
A tiny electronic device.
A blinking light.
Not a bomb.
A transmitter.
May you like
Someone had been tracking the memory card.
And whoever planted it had access to my daughter while I was away.
