Chapter 6 - The Ledger
Thomas had no physical ledger.
Luke did.
The word referred to an encrypted accounting file.
Luke copied it from Mercer Hospitality’s internal server.
He believed Victor was siphoning redevelopment proceeds.
But the numbers were stranger than theft.
Money left Mercer Hospitality.
Passed through Red Fern.
Then returned into property purchases under different ownership.
Circular transactions.
Grant examined them.
“Money laundering?”
Caroline’s attorney said:
“Possibly.”
Derek shook his head.
“Luke thought it was something else.”
What?
A hidden ownership structure.
Someone was secretly acquiring pieces of Mercer Hospitality using the company’s own money.
Grant frowned.
“That's impossible.”
Not entirely.
Shell companies could hold preferred equity.
Debt could convert.
Trusts could hide beneficiaries.
Luke believed within three years Red Fern would control enough debt to seize Mercer Hospitality if Grant defaulted on specific loans.
Whoever ran Red Fern wasn't stealing from Grant.
They were preparing to take his company.
Then Grant realized.
“Victor.”
Thomas replied:
“Luke thought so.”
“Thought?”
“Before he died, he changed his mind.”
Why?
Because Victor’s personal accounts showed no enrichment.
He was hiding transactions.
But perhaps for someone else.
Then Thomas revealed the last message Luke sent him.
LUKE:
Victor is scared too.
GRANT:
Of who?
Thomas looked at him.
“Your father.”
Grant stared.
“My father died seven years ago.”
“I know.”
Again that sentence.
Always followed by something impossible.
Luke believed their father, Charles Mercer, created Red Fern before his death.
Why?
Thomas did not know.
Grant laughed.
“My father built Mercer Hospitality. Why would he secretly take it from me?”
Caroline whispered:
“Maybe he didn't trust you with it.”
Grant turned sharply.
She regretted it.
But the possibility remained.
Then Molly interrupted.
“Chef?”
She held something.
A small black notebook.
Found under a loose floorboard beside the old dry-storage shelves.
Luke’s initials inside.
Thomas stared.
“I’ve never seen that.”
Luke had apparently hidden a backup at the restaurant.
Most pages contained dates.
Victor.
Properties.
Account numbers.
One name appeared repeatedly:
Avery.
Grant frowned.
“Who is Avery?”
Nobody knew.
Then the final page:
If I’m wrong about Victor, Avery is the key.
Below it:
Ask Thomas what happened to Emily.
Grant looked up.
Thomas’s face went cold.
“Who is Emily?”
Thomas did not answer.
Molly did.
“His daughter.”
Grant had never known Thomas had a daughter.
May you like
Then:
“She died at one of your properties.”
