Chapter 8 - The Hidden Truth
The garage was quiet, save for the dripping of a leaky pipe in the corner and the distant hum of traffic outside. Tools hung neatly on pegboards, and an old Ford Mustang sat hoisted on a hydraulic lift in the center of the bay.
"Where would he hide something like a digital ledger?" Emma whispered, keeping Lily cradled safely against her chest as she scanned the shadowed corners of the workshop.
"Not digital," Roman said, walking over to an old metal workbench cluttered with spark plugs, wrenches, and greasy rags. "Caleb hated computers. He said they left too many digital footprints. He was old-school."
Roman began tapping on the underside of the wooden workbench, listening to the hollow echo of the frame. He pressed a hidden release latch beneath the drawer track, and with a soft click, a secret compartment slid open.
Inside lay a heavy leather-bound journal and a small, old-fashioned brass key.
Roman reached in and picked up the journal, flipping open the cover. On the first page was Caleb's messy, familiar handwriting.
“If you're reading this, Roman, it means I didn't make it out. Or it means I finally found a way home.”
Emma held her breath, tears welling in her eyes as Roman read the words silently, his jaw working tightly.
"What does it say?" she asked softly.
"It contains every transaction, every name, every shell corporation Vance and his syndicate used to launder money through the city docks," Roman said, looking up with a fierce, vindicated expression. "This isn't just a ledger, Emma. This is the key to destroying Vance's entire operation."
Before Roman could close the journal, the front sliding door of the garage rattled violently. Heavy footsteps echoed across the concrete floor, accompanied by the cold, mocking laughter of Vance himself.
"Well, look who decided to come home for a family reunion," Vance's voice boomed through the open bay. "We knew you'd check the garage, Callahan. We just didn't expect you to bring your new girlfriend and the baby along to the party."
Emma gasped, stepping back into the shadow of the Ford Mustang. Roman immediately stepped in front of her, raising his weapon as three of Vance's armed thugs stepped out from the shadows of the office entrance, blocking the front exit.
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"Vance!" Roman shouted, his voice echoing off the metal walls. "It's me you want. Let the woman and the child walk."
Vance stepped out from behind his men, a sadistic grin plastered across his scarred face, holding a heavy submachine gun. "I want the ledger, Roman. And I want you dead. I think we have enough firepower to manage all of the above!"
