Chapter 4: The Man Who Held the Missing Ledger
Robert Hayes walked into the Bennett mansion as though he still belonged there.
He wore a charcoal-gray suit, polished black shoes, and an expensive watch that caught the afternoon sunlight. His silver briefcase hung from one hand. In the other, he carried a thick blue leather ledger.
Marcus stood beside the round foyer table, his father's letter still clutched in his fingers.
Nobody greeted Robert.
He looked around the room, noticed the legal team, and stopped.
“Well,” Robert said, adjusting his cufflinks.
“I see the family reunion has become rather complicated.””
Evelyn didn't move.
“You're not welcome here, Robert.””
He smiled faintly.
“Evelyn. It's been a long time.””
“Not long enough.””
Robert placed his briefcase beside the table.
Marcus stepped forward.
“Did you send me that photograph?””
Robert looked at him.
“What photograph?””
“The one showing the blue ledger.””
Robert's expression changed for a fraction of a second.
Then he smiled again.
“Perhaps we should sit down.””
“I didn't ask you to sit down. I asked whether you sent it.””
Robert glanced toward Bonita.
She immediately lowered her eyes.
Marcus noticed.
“You two have been communicating?””
Bonita crossed her arms.
“Marcus, please don't start.””
“Don't start what? Asking questions?””
Robert interrupted.
“Your wife contacted me because she was concerned about the financial situation. I was attempting to help.””
Evelyn gave a quiet laugh.
“Help? You helped yourself to my husband's records.””
Robert opened his briefcase.
“Those records were part of an ongoing business arrangement.””
“They belonged to the Bennett estate.””
“Your husband and I had agreements.””
“Agreements that ended when he died.””
Robert removed a document from his briefcase.
“Actually, there are matters that were never finalized.””
Daniel Reeves stepped forward.
“Mr. Hayes, before you present anything, I should inform you that we are documenting this meeting.””
Robert looked at him.
“Of course. I would expect nothing less from an attorney.””
He placed the document on the table.
“This is a copy of an authorization signed by Richard Bennett. It granted me temporary administrative access to certain estate records.””
Evelyn looked at the paper.
“That's not the document I remember.””
Robert shrugged.
“Memory can be unreliable.””
“Especially when someone is counting on it.””
Marcus picked up the document.
His father's signature appeared at the bottom.
But unlike the previous document Bonita had shown him, this one contained an official stamp and a witness signature.
“Is this real?”” Marcus asked.
Daniel examined it.
“I can't authenticate it from a photocopy.””
Robert nodded.
“Precisely why I brought the original ledger.””
He lifted the blue leather book.
Evelyn's face changed.
“Where did you get that?””
“From the office.””
“You stole it.””
“I recovered property that was being neglected.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“Open it.””
Robert looked at him.
“Excuse me?””
“Open the ledger.””
Robert hesitated.
Then he placed it on the table and turned the first page.
Rows of dates, transaction references, and handwritten figures filled the paper.
Marcus recognized several account numbers from the statements his mother had shown him.
Daniel leaned closer.
“May I?””
Robert reluctantly pushed the ledger toward him.
Daniel examined the pages.
His expression became increasingly serious.
“These transactions are substantial.””
Robert nodded.
“Your father was a businessman. Money moved between accounts all the time.””
Evelyn pointed toward one entry.
“Then explain that transfer.””
Robert glanced down.
“An investment.””
“Into what?””
“A private development project.””
“Whose project?””
Robert didn't answer.
Marcus followed the entry with his finger.
The receiving account belonged to B&B Lifestyle Holdings.
His wife's company.
He looked at Bonita.
“You said you never received money from the estate.””
Bonita shook her head.
“I didn't know what company that was.””
Robert closed the ledger.
“Perhaps we should avoid jumping to conclusions.””
Marcus grabbed the cover.
“Open it again.””
Robert kept his hand on the book.
“Mr. Bennett, this is a complicated financial matter.””
“Then stop talking like I'm stupid.””
The room fell silent.
Marcus pulled the ledger toward himself.
Robert released it.
He opened the pages again and began flipping through them.
There were entries dating back five years.
Some were marked with initials.
Others contained handwritten notes.
Then he found something unusual.
A page had been torn out.
The binding showed rough, uneven edges.
Marcus held the ledger toward Robert.
“What's missing?””
Robert's jaw tightened.
“Old bookkeeping records.””
“Why was a page removed?””
“I don't know.””
Evelyn stepped closer.
“Because that page contained the first unauthorized transfer.””
Robert turned toward her.
“You have no proof of that.””
“I have a copy.””
His expression changed.
Daniel immediately looked at Evelyn.
“Mrs. Bennett, you have the missing page?””
Evelyn nodded.
She reached into her folder and removed a photograph.
It showed a handwritten ledger entry matching the torn section.
Beneath the transaction details was a signature.
Richard Bennett.
Marcus stared.
“Dad signed it?””
Evelyn nodded.
“Yes. But look at the date.””
Marcus examined it.
His father's signature was dated six weeks before his death.
Robert leaned over.
“That was a legitimate transaction.””
Evelyn pointed to the handwritten note beneath it.
“Then explain why your initials appear beside the transfer, followed by the words, 'Hold until authorization from E.B.''”
Robert said nothing.
Marcus looked at his mother.
“E.B.?””
“Evelyn Bennett,” she replied.
“Your father required my approval before certain trust assets could be transferred.””
Robert suddenly closed the ledger.
“That's enough.””
Daniel moved closer.
“Please leave the ledger on the table.””
Robert stared at him.
“You have no authority to seize my property.””
“Then we can let the court determine ownership.””
Robert picked up his briefcase.
“I have no intention of participating in this circus.””
But as he turned, his phone slipped from his jacket pocket and landed on the marble floor.
The screen lit up.
A message appeared.
Marcus saw the name at the top.
*BONITA.*
The message read:
He has the original page. Don't let Evelyn show him the hospital recording.
Marcus slowly looked at his wife.
Bonita's face drained of color.
Robert quickly picked up the phone.
“That's private.””
Marcus stepped toward him.
“What hospital recording?””
Robert didn't answer.
Evelyn looked at Bonita.
“Where is it?””
Bonita shook her head.
“I don't know what you're talking about.””
Evelyn's voice became quieter.
“Bonita, I know you kept a copy.””
Robert moved toward the door.
Daniel's colleague stepped into his path.
“Mr. Hayes, we need to discuss the ledger.””
Robert looked at Marcus.
“Before you believe another word your mother says, ask her why she waited three years to tell you about your father's final hospital visit.””
Marcus turned.
“Mom?””
Evelyn's face had become pale.
Robert smiled.
“There's your answer.””
Then he walked out, leaving the ledger behind.
Marcus watched him disappear through the front door.
He turned back toward his mother.
“What happened during Dad's final hour?””
Evelyn looked down at the photograph in her hand.
“I was there.””
“Was Bonita there?””
A long silence followed.
Then Evelyn whispered:
“Yes.””
Marcus's chest tightened.
“And what did she do?””
May you like
His mother finally looked at him.
“She wasn't alone.””
