Chapter 2 - The Death Certificate Was a Lie
Jolene had learned one rule before she ever fell in love with Grant Holloway.
Never underestimate a man who has something to lose.
She had forgotten that rule when she believed her own feelings were stronger than the danger surrounding him.
Now she sat at the kitchen table while Evelyn placed an old manila envelope between them.
"This is what your mother left."
Jolene stared at it.
"My mother?"
Evelyn nodded.
"She wanted you to open it only if Grant ever found you."
Jolene's fingers trembled.
"Why?"
"Because she knew he would eventually come looking."
Jolene swallowed.
"Why would she know that?"
"Because she knew your father."
Jolene frowned.
"My father died before I was born."
"That is what you were told."
Evelyn opened the envelope.
Inside was a photograph.
A younger Grant stood beside his father, Richard Holloway.
Beside them was another man.
Jolene recognized him immediately.
Her father.
Her breath disappeared.
"Thomas?"
Evelyn nodded.
"Your father worked for Richard Holloway."
Jolene stared at the photograph.
"What kind of work?"
"The kind no one writes down."
A chill ran through her.
"Why did Mom hide me?"
"Because Thomas discovered something."
"What?"
Evelyn hesitated.
"An account."
"What account?"
"The Black Ledger."
Jolene had heard the name once.
Years ago.
A whisper between two men in a bar.
A rumor about an offshore network controlled by several families.
Money.
Weapons.
Judges.
Ports.
Politicians.
All connected through one ledger.
"Grant knows about it?"
"Grant's father knew about it."
Jolene looked at the photograph again.
"So why did Grant think I was dead?"
"Because your disappearance protected him too."
Jolene's face tightened.
"What does that mean?"
Evelyn sighed.
"Your father discovered that Richard was being betrayed by someone inside the organization. He copied evidence."
"Who?"
"We never found out."
"And my father?"
"He was killed."
"By Richard?"
"No."
"Then who?"
"Someone who wanted the ledger."
Jolene closed her eyes.
For years, she had believed her family history was painfully ordinary.
Now every answer created three more questions.
"What happened five months ago?"
Evelyn looked away.
"Desmond came to me."
Grant's uncle.
"He said Grant was about to marry Monica."
Jolene's chest tightened.
"I know."
"He told me Grant needed to be protected from the past."
"That's why you faked my death."
Evelyn nodded.
"He said people were preparing to use you against Grant."
"And you believed him?"
"I did."
Jolene stood.
"You should have told me."
"I was trying to keep you alive."
"You nearly made me disappear forever."
Evelyn lowered her head.
"I know."
Jolene walked to the window.
Across the street, the black sedan was gone.
But she didn't feel safer.
She felt watched.
At the Holloway warehouse, Grant stood in front of a wall covered with photographs and notes.
Trent stood beside him.
"We found her old phone records."
"Give me the important parts."
"She made seven calls to Evelyn Tab in the month before her reported death."
Grant looked at him.
"Her aunt."
"Yes."
"Then three days before she supposedly died, she withdrew eighty thousand dollars."
Grant stared.
"From where?"
"A hidden account under a false name."
"Whose money?"
"Unknown."
Grant looked at another file.
"What about Desmond?"
Trent hesitated.
"We couldn't find any record of him contacting the hospital."
Grant's jaw tightened.
"Of course not."
"And there is more."
"What?"
"Someone accessed your father's old archives six months ago."
Grant went still.
"Who?"
"The login belonged to Desmond."
For the first time that night, Grant felt anger.
Not explosive.
Not loud.
Cold.
He picked up the file.
"Where is my uncle?"
"His home."
"Send six men."
Trent hesitated.
"Alive?"
Grant looked at him.
"I need answers."
Grant reached for his coat.
"Nobody touches him until I get there."
Twenty-five minutes later, Desmond opened his mansion door.
He looked at Grant.
Then at the men behind him.
"You seem upset."
Grant entered without waiting.
"You lied to me."
Desmond's expression changed.
"About what?"
"Jolene."
Silence.
Desmond stared.
Grant placed the death certificate on the table.
"Mercy Memorial has no record of her."
Desmond said nothing.
"Who fabricated this?"
"I don't know."
"Wrong answer."
Grant stepped closer.
"You were the one who brought it to me."
"I was protecting you."
"From what?"
"Your father."
Grant's eyes narrowed.
"My father is dead."
"He isn't finished."
Grant grabbed Desmond by the collar.
"What does that mean?"
Desmond's eyes filled with fear.
"Richard left something behind."
"What?"
"The ledger."
Grant froze.
"I thought it was destroyed."
"It was never destroyed."
"Where is it?"
Desmond whispered:
"With Jolene."
Grant released him.
Behind his anger came something else.
A realization.
Jolene had not simply disappeared.
She had been hiding something.
Something connected to his father's empire.
Something powerful enough to make people fake her death.
And possibly powerful enough to make someone hunt her unborn child.
Grant's phone vibrated.
An incoming video call.
Unknown number.
He answered.
Jolene appeared on the screen.
Her face was pale.
"Grant."
His heart slammed against his ribs.
"Where are you?"
She shook her head.
"Don't come after me."
"Why?"
"Because people are watching."
"Who?"
"I don't know."
"You do."
Her eyes filled with tears.
"Grant, I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"For leaving."
He stared.
"Why did you?"
She looked down.
Then the camera shifted.
Her hand rested over her stomach.
Grant stopped breathing.
"Jolene."
A man's voice came from somewhere behind the camera.
"You have thirty seconds."
Jolene looked up.
"I never stopped loving you."
The call ended.
Grant stood motionless.
Desmond whispered:
"She has the ledger."
Grant turned to him.
"No."
Desmond frowned.
Grant's eyes were fixed on the blank phone screen.
"She has something more important."
"What?"
May you like
Grant answered quietly.
"My child."
