Chapter 7 - The Ledger Room

Catherine could not stop looking at David.

Seven months of grief had trained her mind to reject what her eyes now insisted was real.

He was standing six feet away behind reinforced glass.

His hair was longer. His face was hollow. There was a pale scar near his jaw she had never seen before.

But when he looked at her, one eyebrow lifted slightly higher than the other.

David had always done that when he was terrified and trying not to show it.

Catherine felt rage and love arrive together.

"Open the door," she told Harlan.

"The ring."

"You said I could see him. I saw him. Now open it."

"Catherine, this does not need to become dramatic."

She laughed sharply.

"You declared my living husband dead, attended his funeral, tracked my child, and kidnapped him again. We passed dramatic months ago."

David hit the glass.

"Harlan, leave her out of this."

Harlan did not look at him.

"You had that option. Many times."

Catherine held up her closed fist.

"If I give you the ring, what happens?"

"You take David and leave."

"I don't believe you."

"Then why come?"

"To hear you lie in person."

A muscle moved in Harlan's cheek.

"Your husband stole evidence that could destroy ongoing federal operations."

"Your operations?"

"Operations that kept violent people contained."

"By declaring witnesses dead?"

Harlan's eyes sharpened.

"Emily has been talking."

"Mara Vale," Catherine said.

That landed.

For the first time, Harlan's control visibly slipped.

"Where is she?"

"Afraid of you. Same as everyone else."

"She owes her life to me."

"She owes her fear to you."

Harlan stepped closer.

"You do not understand what Mara was."

"A child you turned into leverage."

His face hardened.

"Your husband's father was sentimental. He believed rescued people stayed rescued. They don't. They make deals. They relapse. They betray."

David shouted through the glass.

"You're recording this, Cath?"

Harlan's head snapped toward her.

Catherine did not react quickly enough.

He grabbed her wrist.

She tried to pull away.

"Where is the device?"

"Get off me."

David slammed the glass again.

"Touch her again and the ledger goes public automatically."

Harlan froze.

Catherine saw uncertainty cross his face.

"You bluff badly, David."

"Do I?"

Harlan released Catherine.

"The ledger isn't connected to anything. Pritchard kept it offline."

David smiled faintly.

"Thank you."

Harlan's expression changed.

David continued.

"I didn't know whether Pritchard kept the live copy offline or mirrored it. Now I do."

Catherine understood.

David had baited him.

Harlan turned toward a camera in the corner.

"Move him."

Nothing happened.

He pressed an intercom button.

"East security, respond."

Static.

Catherine's pulse jumped.

Emily.

Marco.

Someone had disrupted the internal system.

Harlan looked at Catherine.

"Who did you bring?"

"You told me to come alone."

"Who?"

"Maybe I'm not the only one who lies."

The corridor lights flickered once.

A fire alarm began to pulse, not loud enough to panic the legitimate patients but enough to unlock certain internal doors under code.

David's room remained locked.

Harlan pulled a keycard from his pocket and moved toward it.

Catherine stepped in front of him.

"Open it."

"Move."

"No."

"Catherine."

"You don't get to use that voice anymore."

Harlan's patience broke.

He shoved past her.

Before he reached the reader, the door at the far end opened.

Emily entered wearing maintenance coveralls and holding a laptop.

Harlan stopped.

For a second, neither spoke.

Then he whispered, "Mara."

Emily's face went pale, but she did not retreat.

"That name was never yours to use."

Harlan almost smiled.

"I knew you were alive."

"You knew because you made sure I couldn't disappear."

"I protected you."

"You owned me."

Catherine looked at Emily's shaking hands.

"Can you open David's door?"

"Working on it."

Harlan reached inside his coat.

Catherine shouted, "Don't."

He stopped.

Marco's voice came from behind him.

"Take your hand out slowly."

Marco stood at the opposite corridor entrance with his weapon trained low but ready. Beside him were two men in plain clothes.

Harlan's hand emerged empty.

"Romano sends soldiers into a medical facility and you think that helps your case?"

Marco answered, "They're licensed private security. Today."

One of the men muttered, "Very recently."

Catherine almost laughed from nerves.

Emily tapped the laptop.

David's lock clicked.

Catherine opened the door.

David stepped out.

For one second, they only stared at each other.

Then he said, "Cath."

She slapped him.

The sound echoed down the corridor.

Marco looked away.

Emily closed her eyes.

David touched his cheek.

"I deserved that."

Catherine hit his chest with both palms and then wrapped her arms around him so tightly he staggered.

"You are alive."

"I'm sorry."

"I hate you."

"I know."

"I love you."

His arms closed around her.

"I know."

"Don't say you know."

"Okay."

She pulled back, crying and furious.

"Where is the ledger?"

David looked at Harlan.

"Not here."

Harlan's mouth tightened.

"You were followed when you took Pritchard. We found the storage room."

David shook his head.

"You found the decoy."

"There was an encrypted drive."

"Yes."

"It needs the ring."

"Partly."

Harlan looked at Catherine's fist.

"And she brought it."

David smiled without humor.

"Did she?"

Catherine opened her hand.

The ring sat in her palm.

Harlan stared at it.

Then David asked, "Did you really think I would put the only key on something Catherine could be forced to surrender?"

Catherine looked at him.

"You put half on Logan's drawing."

David's eyes widened.

"You found that?"

"I'm married to an irritating man who hides gifts behind puzzles."

Despite everything, a laugh escaped him.

Harlan's expression turned dangerous.

"Where is Pritchard?"

David answered, "Safe."

"He isn't safe from the charges coming."

"No. He isn't. That's why he started talking."

Harlan took one slow step backward.

Marco blocked the exit.

"Stay."

"You have no authority to detain me."

Emily spoke.

"Maybe he doesn't."

She turned her laptop so Harlan could see the screen.

A video call was connected.

Two people sat in an office: a federal inspector general investigator and an assistant U.S. attorney.

Emily said, "But they do."

Harlan stared at the screen.

The attorney spoke.

"Detective Harlan, do not leave the facility. Federal agents outside the task force are entering the property now."

Harlan's eyes moved to Catherine.

"You think this ends because of a recording?"

David said, "No. It ends because Pritchard gave them the location of your archive."

For the first time, Harlan looked truly afraid.

"He doesn't know where it is."

"He knows enough."

"No."

David stepped closer.

"He knew about the basement beneath the old county evidence building."

Harlan went still.

Catherine noticed.

David noticed too.

"There," David said quietly. "That's the face I was waiting for."

Harlan's fear vanished behind fury.

"You stupid man. You think that building holds files?"

David did not answer.

Harlan realized the trap a fraction too late.

Emily whispered, "He just confirmed it."

The attorney on screen said, "We heard him."

Harlan closed his eyes.

Sirens sounded outside.

Catherine felt David reach for her hand.

She let him take it for only a second.

Then Emily's laptop chimed.

A new alert appeared.

She read it and went pale.

"What?" Catherine asked.

Emily looked at David.

"The archive team reached the county building."

"And?"

"The basement is empty."

Harlan opened his eyes.

A faint smile returned.

David's face changed.

"Where did you move it?"

Harlan said nothing.

The smile was enough.

Then Catherine's secure phone rang.

Nora's number.

Catherine answered immediately.

"Nora?"

A man's voice replied.

"Mrs. Winters."

Catherine stopped breathing.

Harlan looked genuinely confused.

The caller continued.

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"You have something that belongs to us. We have something that belongs to you."

In the background, Logan began to cry.