Chapter 10 - The Ledger Opens Its MouthBy nine in the morning, the story had escaped everyone’s control.
There had been a gunshot in the old Ward & Blackwood studio.
Celeste Vale had been detained.
Two unidentified men were in custody.
Adrian Blackwood had a split lip and bruised knuckles.
Mabel had become an internet legend after a blurry police bodycam still showed her holding a floor lamp like a knight with a sword.
And Lena Ward sat in a police interview room with the blue ledger on the table in front of her.
A detective named Mara Bell listened without interrupting.
That alone made Lena trust her more than most people.
Detective Bell was in her forties, with tired eyes and a voice that gave nothing away. She turned each page of the ledger slowly, photographing dates, names, notes, receipts, and sketches.
When she reached the page with Thomas Blackwood’s signature, she looked up at Adrian.
He stood against the wall, one butterfly bandage near his eyebrow.
“You said you were unaware of your father’s involvement.”
“I was.”
“Can you prove that?”
“No,” Adrian said. “But I can help prove his involvement.”
The detective studied him.
Lena did too.
Adrian did not look away from either of them.
Detective Bell turned another page.
Her expression changed.
“What is Project Glasshouse?”
Mabel, seated beside Lena, went pale.
Adrian frowned. “I’ve never heard of it.”
Lena leaned forward.
The page contained no sketches. Only names and numbers.
Vale Foundation Gala.
Blackwood Cultural Fund.
Ward & Blackwood Studio.
Glasshouse transfers.
Shell payments.
Lena’s mother had written one line beneath it all.
They are washing money through beauty.
Detective Bell photographed the page twice.
“This ledger is evidence,” she said.
Lena’s hand tightened around the edge of the table. “Do I get it back?”
“Eventually. Maybe.” Detective Bell’s voice softened slightly. “But right now, this may be connected to financial crimes far beyond your mother’s case.”
Lena almost laughed.
Her mother had not simply designed gowns.
She had found a machine.
And the machine had crushed her.
Adrian pushed off the wall. “What about Celeste?”
Detective Bell’s mouth tightened. “Her attorney is already downstairs.”
“Of course he is,” Mabel muttered.
“She claims she followed Lena to retrieve stolen property. She says the weapon belonged to one of the men and she took it in fear.”
Lena stared. “She pointed it at us.”
“I believe you,” the detective said. “But belief and conviction are not the same.”
That sentence felt like the law explaining why rich people slept well.
Detective Bell closed the ledger carefully.
“Miss Ward, do you have somewhere safe to stay?”
Lena hesitated.
Her apartment was not safe. It barely counted as hers. Celeste had already found the studio. Richard Vale had sent threats. Thomas Blackwood was now involved.
Before Adrian could speak, Lena said, “I’ll stay with Mabel.”
Mabel blinked. “My place has one bedroom and a cat who hates guests.”
“Good,” Lena said. “Then if anyone breaks in, the cat can start.”
Adrian looked like he wanted to object.
He didn’t.
Progress, Lena thought.
Detective Bell gave the first hint of a smile.
“You’ll have police presence nearby for now. Not obvious, but nearby.”
Lena nodded.
Adrian stepped closer as the detective left.
“I can arrange a secure apartment.”
“I know.”
“You won’t take it.”
“No.”
“Because it’s from me?”
“Because I need one thing in my life that doesn’t belong to a Blackwood.”
The words hit him visibly.
Mabel sighed. “Lena.”
“No,” Adrian said quietly. “She’s right.”
That surprised her.
He looked exhausted.
“My name is on half the damage done to her family whether I knew it or not.”
Lena looked at him for a long moment.
“You keep saying the right things.”
His mouth curved faintly, painfully. “Is that bad?”
“It’s confusing.”
Before he could answer, his phone rang.
He looked at it.
His face hardened.
“My father.”
Detective Bell had stepped out, but a uniformed officer remained nearby.
Adrian answered on speaker without greeting.
Thomas Blackwood’s voice filled the room, smooth and cold.
“You’ve embarrassed this family enough.”
Adrian said nothing.
Thomas continued, “The girl is using you. Her mother used mine. End this before you lose everything.”
Lena’s heart pounded.
Adrian looked directly at her as he replied.
“No.”
A pause.
Then Thomas laughed softly.
“You always did inherit Vivian’s weakness.”
Adrian’s face went white.
Thomas lowered his voice.
“Bring me the ledger, or I’ll release what Evelyn Ward did the night Vivian died.”
Mabel gasped.
Lena stared at Adrian.
Adrian whispered, “What?”
Thomas said, “Ask Mabel. She remembers.”
The call ended.
The room became airless.
Lena turned slowly.
Mabel was crying.
“Mabel,” Lena said.
The older woman shook her head. “I wanted to tell you. God help me, I wanted to.”
“What happened the night Vivian Blackwood died?”
May you like
Mabel covered her mouth.
And Adrian, for the first time since Lena had met him, looked afraid of the answer.
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