Chapter 4 - The Ledger Everyone Wanted Was Hidden in My Father's Old Bakery Recipe BookMy father had died six years earlier.
He had owned the bakery before me.
I had inherited everything.
The building.
The recipes.
The debts.
The old books.
Vincent asked:
“Did your father ever mention a ledger?”
“No.”
“Anything unusual?”
I thought.
“His recipe book.”
“What about it?”
“He never let anyone touch it.”
We searched the bakery.
The book was hidden beneath the office floor.
Inside were recipes written in my father's handwriting.
Bread.
Cakes.
Pastries.
But the numbers didn't make sense.
Flour quantities.
Baking times.
Temperatures.
I looked closer.
They weren't recipes.
They were coordinates.
Vincent understood.
“Your father encoded information.”
I nodded.
“He taught me the recipes when I was little.”
“Did you memorize them?”
“Yes.”
“Then you may know where the ledger is.”
We followed the coordinates.
They led beneath an abandoned church.
Inside was a steel box.
The ledger.
Vincent opened it.
Names filled the pages.
Politicians.
Police officers.
Judges.
Businessmen.
Gang leaders.
And one name appeared repeatedly.
DANIEL COSTELLO.
Vincent's father.
Vincent's face changed.
“He wasn't supposed to be here.”
“What does that mean?”
“My father died believing his closest lieutenant betrayed him.”
“Maybe he did.”
Vincent shook his head.
“No.”
He turned another page.
There was a photograph.
My father.
Daniel Costello.
And a third man.
The blond leader from the alley.
Vincent stared.
“Marcus Vale.”
“Who is he?”
“My father's most trusted adviser.”
“What happened to him?”
“He died ten years ago.”
I looked at the photograph.
“He didn't.”
Vincent's phone rang.
He answered.
A distorted voice said:
“Bring the ledger.”
Vincent asked:
“Where is Nora's mother?”
“Alive.”
“For now.”
I grabbed the phone.
“Give her back.”
The voice laughed.
“You're the baker.”
“Yes.”
“You caused us a lot of trouble.”
“Good.”
Silence.
Then:
“You have until midnight.”
The call ended.
Vincent looked at me.
“We're going to get your mother.”
I nodded.
But inside the ledger, one final page had been marked.
THE BAKER'S DAUGHTER IS THE KEY.
I stared.
“What daughter?”
May you like
Vincent looked at me.
“You.”
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