Chapter 24 - The Missing Page
The junior attorney’s name was Aaron Feld.
Twenty-nine years old.
Three years out of law school.
He entered Sarah Bennett’s office looking as though he had not slept in a week.
“I didn’t know what Grant was doing when I joined the case.”
Sarah did not look sympathetic.
“You drafted documents challenging ownership of land based on a deed you now believe was forged.”
“I believed our client had purchased a legitimate historical interest.”
“When did you stop believing that?”
Aaron looked toward Rachel.
“After the first hearing.”
“Why?”
“Grant told us to remove references to the release document from discovery responses.”
Sarah’s expression changed.
“He knew about the release?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Before Northstar filed the lawsuit.”
That mattered.
A lot.
If Grant knew the original fraudulent deed had been released before filing his ownership claim, the lawsuit itself could become evidence of fraud.
Aaron placed a flash drive on the table.
“I copied internal communications.”
Sarah did not touch it.
“Agent Sloan will handle that.”
Aaron nodded.
“There’s something else.”
He opened a paper folder.
“Grant has been looking for a missing page from William Vance’s ledger.”
Rachel frowned.
“The ledger is complete.”
“No.”
Aaron shook his head.
“Grant believes one page was removed seventeen years ago.”
“What page?”
“I don’t know.”
He handed Rachel a photocopy.
It showed an old photograph of the ledger before Rusk stole it.
Page numbers were visible.
Page 214.
Page 216.
Page 215 was missing.
Rachel’s stomach tightened.
“What was on 215?”
Aaron whispered, “Something Grant is afraid of.”
That afternoon, Rachel returned to the farmhouse.
This time, Daniel came with her.
No chase.
No broken windows.
Just rain tapping against the roof.
They searched the steel box again.
Nothing.
Rachel searched William’s desk.
Nothing.
Then Daniel noticed the old photograph of William beside his tractor.
He removed it from the frame.
A folded sheet of paper slipped out.
Rachel froze.
Page 215.
She unfolded it carefully.
William’s handwriting crossed the yellowed paper.
DOUGLAS WARD — PRIVATE AGREEMENT.
Rachel read.
Douglas Ward had asked William to conceal financial irregularities involving regional land purchases.
William refused.
Then came the sentence that changed everything.
D. Ward states his son Grant handled signatures and filing preparation.
Rachel stopped.
Daniel leaned closer.
Grant had not merely inherited his father’s grudge.
He had participated in the original fraud.
Seventeen years earlier.
Rachel continued reading.
Grant Ward delivered deed package personally. I informed him signature was unauthorized. He stated, “Once recorded, truth becomes paperwork.”
Rachel felt cold.
Grant had known.
He was not repeating his father’s crime.
He was finishing his own.
Sarah drove down that evening.
When she saw the page, she called Sloan immediately.
“This gives us direct historical involvement.”
Rachel stared at the sentence.
Once recorded, truth becomes paperwork.
That philosophy explained Grant perfectly.
He believed documents created reality.
Fake deeds.
Fake screenshots.
Fake charity accusations.
Fake job offers.
If enough paper existed, maybe truth would become irrelevant.
Rachel folded the page carefully.
“My grandfather hid it.”
Daniel nodded.
“Why?”
Rachel thought.
“Because he knew someone might come back.”
Sarah looked around the farmhouse.
“William was playing a very long game.”
Rachel smiled sadly.
“No. He was protecting his family.”
Her phone rang.
Victor.
Rachel considered ignoring it.
Then answered.
“Hello?”
His breathing sounded strange.
“Rachel.”
“What happened?”
“I received a package.”
“From who?”
“No return address.”
“What’s inside?”
Victor said nothing for several seconds.
“Photographs of Maya.”
Rachel stood.
“When?”
“Recent.”
Her blood turned to ice.
“Where are you?”
“My apartment.”
“Do not touch anything else. Call Agent Sloan.”
“I already did.”
Rachel could hear fear in his voice.
Then Victor whispered, “There’s a note.”
“What does it say?”
He read it.
You created this problem. Fix it.
Rachel’s jaw tightened.
“How does Grant expect you to fix it?”
“There’s another page.”
“What page?”
Victor swallowed.
“He wants me to testify that you forged the Vance records.”
Daniel heard enough to understand.
Sarah closed her eyes.
Rachel spoke carefully.
“Victor, listen to me. Do exactly what Agent Sloan tells you.”
“I will.”
“No heroics.”
Victor laughed once.
“I gave up thinking I was a hero a long time ago.”
Rachel softened slightly.
“Good.”
“Rachel?”
“Yes?”
“If they come after Maya because of me…”
“Stop.”
“I need you to know—”
“Victor.”
Her voice became firm.
“You cannot change what you did by sacrificing yourself now.”
He went silent.
“You can only make the next right decision.”
On the other end, Victor began to cry quietly.
“That sounds like your grandfather.”
Rachel looked down at page 215.
“Yes.”
She whispered.
“It does.”
The next morning, Victor contacted Grant Ward.
He told him he was willing to cooperate.
May you like
Grant believed him.
Agent Sloan was listening to every word.
