Chapter 14: Wade's Name in the Ledger
Wade stopped moving.
"What did you just say?""
Eleanor looked directly at him.
"Your name is in the ledger.""
Wade shook his head.
"That's impossible.""
"Thomas added it in 1996.""
"Why?""
Eleanor hesitated.
"Because you were the one who helped Frank move the money.""
Wade stared at her.
Frank immediately stepped forward.
"That's a lie.""
Eleanor shook her head.
"Ask him.""
Martha looked between them.
"Wade?""
He didn't answer.
The sound of another gunshot came from outside.
Duke shouted:
"We need to move!""
Wade turned toward Frank.
"Tell me she's lying.""
Frank's face was pale.
"Not here.""
Wade grabbed his jacket.
"Tell me!""
Frank looked into his eyes.
"Your name was used to move the original records. But you didn't know what was inside the boxes.""
Wade released him.
"Then why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I didn't want you involved.""
Wade laughed bitterly.
"Thirty years ago, you stood beside me at my son's funeral. You watched me bury an empty casket. And you never told me the truth.""
Frank lowered his head.
"I was trying to protect you.""
Wade stepped backward.
"Everybody has an excuse.""
Martha approached.
"Wade, please.""
He looked at her.
"I'm sorry, Martha. But I need to understand.""
Frank nodded.
"Then I'll tell you everything.""
He opened the back door.
"First, we need to survive.""
They escaped through the rear garden.
Duke had parked his truck behind the neighboring property.
Leonard was waiting beside it with a tire iron.
"Get in!""
The group climbed aboard.
Duke drove through a narrow dirt road that ran parallel to the river.
Behind them, the attackers emerged from the house.
One raised a weapon.
Leonard ducked as a bullet struck the rear window.
"Keep driving!"" he shouted.
Duke accelerated.
They reached the main road and disappeared into morning traffic.
Twenty minutes later, they stopped at an abandoned repair shop.
It had once belonged to Frank.
He still had a key.
Inside, the walls were covered with old motorcycle parts and faded photographs.
Wade stood near the workbench.
His arms were crossed.
Frank approached him.
"Sit down.""
"No.""
Frank sighed.
"In 1996, I discovered that Thomas had been using the dealership to move stolen motorcycles. I copied his records and arranged to deliver them to federal investigators.""
Wade listened.
"Thomas found out. He contacted Detective Collins and told him that I was planning to expose the entire network.""
"Where do I fit into this?""
Frank took a breath.
"Thomas knew you were the only person I trusted outside the family. He knew you would help me move the evidence.""
Wade nodded slowly.
"I remember the night you asked me to take those boxes to the river.""
"Yes.""
"You said they contained spare motorcycle parts.""
"I lied.""
Wade looked away.
"You used me.""
"I did.""
The honesty hurt more than another excuse would have.
Frank continued.
"After you delivered the boxes, Thomas arranged for your name to appear on the shipping documents. He wanted to make it look as if you were involved in the operation.""
Wade's expression darkened.
"So he could control me.""
Frank nodded.
"If the police questioned you, he would show them the documents. You would have been arrested.""
Wade sat down.
"And Daniel?""
"Thomas planned to use him as leverage.""
Wade closed his eyes.
"I spent thirty years believing I had failed my son.""
Frank's voice broke.
"You didn't fail him.""
"You knew he was alive.""
"I found out after I disappeared. I couldn't reach you without exposing him.""
Wade stared at the floor.
"You should have trusted me.""
Frank nodded.
"I know.""
For a long moment, the two old friends said nothing.
Then Wade stood.
"Show me the ledger.""
Frank removed the silver key.
He placed it on the workbench.
"Before I show you, there's something else.""
He opened a drawer and removed an old photograph.
It showed Wade standing beside a young man.
Wade recognized the boy immediately.
Daniel.
But there was another person in the background.
A woman holding a baby.
Wade looked closer.
The woman was his late wife, Susan.
The baby was not Daniel.
It was a little girl.
Wade's expression changed.
"Who is that?""
Frank hesitated.
"Your daughter.""
Wade stared.
"What?""
"Her name was Sarah.""
Wade shook his head.
"I only had one child.""
"That's what you believed.""
Wade grabbed the photograph.
"Where did this come from?""
"Thomas kept records on every family involved in the network. Sarah was born in 1994.""
Wade looked at Frank.
"You're telling me Susan had another child?""
Frank nodded.
"She was adopted by a family in Ohio after Susan became seriously ill.""
Wade's hands began shaking.
"My wife never told me.""
"She was afraid Thomas would use the child against you.""
Wade sat down heavily.
"Is she alive?""
Frank nodded.
"Yes.""
Wade looked at the photograph.
"Does she know?""
"I don't think so.""
Wade covered his face.
For thirty years, he had believed he had lost one child.
Now he was discovering he might have a daughter he had never met.
Martha gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Wade, we'll find her.""
He nodded without looking up.
Then Lucas spoke from the workbench.
"I found something.""
He had opened a digital copy of the ledger on his laptop.
The file contained hundreds of names.
But one entry stood out.
*SARAH MERCER — BENEFICIARY TRANSFER — 1994.*
Lucas clicked it.
A scanned document appeared.
It showed the name of the family who had adopted Sarah.
And beneath it was a recent address.
Wade stared.
"She's close?""
Lucas nodded.
"About two hours away.""
Wade took a breath.
"Can we contact her?""
Lucas opened another file.
"There's a phone number.""
He dialed.
The phone rang.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
A woman answered.
"Hello?""
Wade couldn't speak.
Lucas handed him the phone.
Wade swallowed.
"Is this Sarah?""
"Yes. Who is this?""
"My name is Wade Mercer.""
There was a pause.
Then the woman spoke.
"I know that name.""
Wade's heart stopped.
"You do?""
"Yes.""
Her voice became cold.
"My mother told me never to trust you.""
Wade closed his eyes.
"Sarah, I think there's been a terrible misunderstanding.""
She laughed bitterly.
"Thirty years late, don't you think?""
Then she hung up.
Wade slowly lowered the phone.
Frank looked at him.
"She knows something.""
Wade nodded.
"Apparently, she hates me.""
Martha glanced at the photograph.
"Maybe somebody told her a story.""
Wade looked toward the door.
"Then I'm going to find out who.""
Lucas continued scrolling through the ledger.
Suddenly, he stopped.
"Wait.""
Frank approached.
"What is it?""
Lucas pointed to another entry.
*SUSAN MERCER — PAYMENT AUTHORIZATION — 1996.*
Wade frowned.
"My wife died in 1997.""
Lucas nodded.
"But this payment was made in 2004.""
Wade stared at the screen.
"That's impossible.""
Lucas opened the attached document.
It was a bank transfer signed by Susan Mercer.
The date was April 12, 2004.
Wade's voice dropped.
"My wife was alive seven years after her funeral?""
Frank looked at him.
"Maybe.""
Wade turned.
"What do you mean maybe?""
Frank hesitated.
"Because I was told something else.""
"What?""
Frank looked at the photograph of Sarah.
"Susan wasn't the only person Thomas helped disappear.""
Then the repair shop's old landline began ringing.
Frank picked it up.
A woman's voice spoke.
"Frank? It's Sarah.""
Wade rushed toward the phone.
But before he could take it, she said:
"Don't let my father know I'm calling.""
Wade froze.
"Your father?""
May you like
Sarah answered:
"Yes. Thomas Bell.""
