Chapter 8 - THE SECRET IN THE RED LEDGER
The red ledger was discovered beneath the floorboards of Rosabelle's storage room.
Rose Bellini had hidden it after her husband's death.
She agreed to surrender it to an independent investigative team.
The ledger contained dates.
Account numbers.
Payments.
And names.
Several city officials appeared.
So did Captain Marcus Vale.
Harper's stomach tightened when she learned about it.
But the most surprising name belonged to someone else.
Lucian Ferraro.
His companies had received payments from Harbor Crest.
Millions.
Harper stared at the summary provided to her as a witness to the threats.
She had hoped Lucian was innocent.
Now she wasn't sure.
That evening, he called.
She didn't answer.
He sent a message.
Harper, I know what they found.
She stared.
Another message appeared.
There's an explanation, but I won't ask you to believe it without evidence.
She put down the phone.
May you like
For the first time, she wondered whether the man she'd begun to care about had been using her.
And whether her feelings had made her overlook the obvious.
