Chapter 3 - Ethan Learned the Town’s Most Feared Woman Had Been Protecting a Secret That Could Destroy Its Most Powerful FamilyThe next morning, Ethan found his construction site surrounded by police.
Sheriff Dalton stood near the entrance.
“What's happening?”
Dalton handed him a warrant.
“Fraud investigation.”
“What fraud?”
“Financial.”
Ethan read the warrant.
The accusation was absurd.
Money laundering.
Illegal payments.
Bribery.
Everything connected to the same shell companies Hannah had warned him about.
He looked at Dalton.
“You planted this.”
Dalton's smile disappeared.
“You need a lawyer.”
Ethan called one.
Within hours, the warrant was challenged.
The evidence was dismissed.
But someone had wanted his company frozen.
Someone wanted him distracted.
Ethan knew why.
Hannah.
He drove to her house.
She was on the porch.
“You're in trouble.”
She smiled.
“I'm aware.”
“How much?”
“My trouble?”
“Yes.”
She sighed.
“Enough.”
He sat.
“Tell me about the ledger.”
She stared at the road.
“My father kept records.”
“Of Weller?”
“Of everyone.”
“Why?”
“To protect us.”
“Did it work?”
“No.”
She looked down.
“He died believing I'd be safe.”
“What happened?”
“He refused to sign over the Cole property.”
“And Weller?”
“He offered him money.”
“My father refused.”
“Then Weller threatened him.”
She closed her eyes.
“Three months later, my father's brakes failed.”
Ethan's jaw tightened.
“Did you prove it?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because the mechanic disappeared.”
“Who was the mechanic?”
“Weller's man.”
Ethan understood.
Hannah had spent years fighting for justice she could never prove.
That would make anyone hard.
But she wasn't hard.
She was tired.
He took her hand.
“You don't have to do this alone.”
She looked at him.
“I've always done it alone.”
“Not anymore.”
She didn't answer.
Instead, she asked:
“Why did you move to Maple Hollow?”
“My company bought the land.”
“That isn't what I asked.”
He smiled.
“My father retired.”
“And?”
“I wanted somewhere quieter.”
“Did you find it?”
He laughed.
“Not exactly.”
She smiled.
Then Ethan saw something behind her.
A truck.
Black.
Parked across the street.
“Weller?”
She nodded.
“Don't look.”
“I already did.”
“He's sending a message.”
“What message?”
“He wants me to know he can reach me anytime.”
Ethan stood.
“Then he should know he can reach us too.”
Hannah grabbed his arm.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because if you fight him, he'll fight back.”
“Good.”
Her eyes softened.
“That's what I'm afraid of.”
That night, someone broke into Hannah's community office.
Nothing was stolen.
Except one photograph.
A picture of her father.
Ethan stared at the empty frame.
“Why this?”
Hannah whispered:
“Because it's a warning.”
Behind the frame they found a hidden message.
COME TO THE OLD MILL ALONE.
Hannah looked at Ethan.
“I have to go.”
“No.”
“I do.”
“You'll get yourself killed.”
“Maybe.”
“Then I'm coming.”
“You can't.”
“Yes.”
She stared.
“You don't listen.”
“Correct.”
He drove.
The old mill was abandoned.
Weller waited.
He stood alone.
“You brought the outsider.”
Hannah stepped forward.
“Leave him out of this.”
Weller laughed.
“He already chose.”
Ethan stepped beside her.
“What do you want?”
“The ledger.”
“We don't have it.”
Weller smiled.
“You do.”
Hannah's face changed.
He continued.
“Your father left it with someone.”
“Who?”
Weller looked at Ethan.
“You.”
Ethan froze.
“What?”
Weller smiled.
“Your father and mine worked together.”
Silence.
Ethan's father.
Weller.
Hannah stared.
“My father never mentioned Ethan's family.”
“Of course not.”
Weller laughed.
“Because Samuel Cole stole something from us.”
“What?”
“The ledger.”
Ethan stepped closer.
“Why would my father have it?”
“Because he helped Samuel hide it.”
Hannah looked at Ethan.
“You knew?”
“No.”
Weller smiled.
“Ask him about the old Mercer ranch.”
Ethan's blood went cold.
He remembered his father refusing to sell the ranch.
Years later, it had burned.
His father had called it an accident.
Maybe it wasn't.
Weller continued:
“Your father had the ledger.”
“He hid it.”
“Then Samuel was killed.”
Hannah's eyes filled.
“And you killed him?”
Weller smiled.
“Not personally.”
He stepped backward.
“But I signed the order.”
Hannah lunged.
Ethan grabbed her.
“Don't.”
Weller laughed.
“There she is.”
Hannah shook with anger.
“Why are you telling us this?”
“Because tomorrow I take your mother's house.”
Hannah froze.
“Why?”
“Because she has something else.”
“What?”
“A key.”
Weller walked away.
Hannah looked at Ethan.
“My mother.”
They drove back.
Carol was missing.
Her house was empty.
May you like
On the kitchen table was a note.
BRING THE LEDGER OR SHE DIES.
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