Chapter 6 - HELEN’S SECRET
Helen had known about the ledgers for eleven months.
She had not understood their full meaning.
Victor told her the books contained sensitive business records that could be misinterpreted during an ongoing tax dispute.
He asked her to move them from the family estate to the lake house.
Helen agreed.
She drove there alone.
She placed three black ledgers in a locked cabinet behind a landscape painting.
Victor thanked her.
Then he warned her never to tell Richard.
“He is old-fashioned.”
“He will panic over accounting methods he does not understand.”
Helen wanted to feel useful.
Victor had become distant after taking control of the company.
Helping him made her believe they were close again.
Now she realized he had used her.
Detective Quinn contacted federal investigators.
The fraud crossed state lines.
Some of the shell companies had received funds from overseas investors.
A joint task force was formed by evening.
But the ledgers created a problem.
The lake house was registered to a corporation controlled by Victor.
Police needed a warrant.
Obtaining one could take time.
Victor could reach the property first.
Richard stood near the hotel window.
“He will go there tonight.”
“How do you know?” Detective Quinn asked.
“Because I taught him to protect documents before protecting people.”
Helen began crying.
“I can get inside.”
Mara shook her head.
“You are a witness.”
“You cannot interfere with evidence.”
“What if I simply visit a house my family has used for thirty years?”
“You could place yourself in danger.”
Helen looked at Lena.
“My entire life, I told myself silence kept the family together.”
“It did not.”
“It only gave Victor more room to become cruel.”
“I will not be silent again.”
Detective Quinn called the federal agent supervising the case.
After a tense discussion, they agreed on a controlled plan.
Helen would drive to the lake house wearing a recording device.
Richard would accompany her.
Agents would follow at a distance.
Lena was ordered to remain at the hotel.
She agreed.
Then she waited until everyone left.
The dark-green phone rang.
A blocked number appeared on the screen.
She answered.
Victor’s voice filled the room.
“You sent my parents to the lake house.”
Lena’s blood went cold.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You were never a good liar.”
“Leave them alone.”
“They stopped being my parents when they testified against me.”
“What are you going to do?”
Victor laughed softly.
“Ask your detective.”
The line disconnected.
Lena called Mara.
No answer.
She called Richard.
Nothing.
Then she called Helen.
The phone rang six times.
A man answered.
Not Victor.
Malcolm Reed spoke calmly.
“Mrs. Hale, you should come to the lake house.”
“Why?”
May you like
“Because your little plan has created a very unfortunate situation.”
In the background, Lena heard Helen scream.
