Chapter 9 - The House Built on Stolen Names
Olivia reached the Miller house shortly after sunrise.
The iron gate stood open.
Inside the courtyard, boxes of documents burned inside a metal barrel.
Brittany fed papers into the flames.
She froze when Olivia entered.
“You are supposed to be in police custody.”
“So is your brother.”
Brittany glanced toward the house.
“He told me you were sick.”
“He told everyone what they needed to hear.”
Olivia pulled a burning page from the barrel and stamped out the flame.
It listed six women’s names.
One belonged to the woman who had disappeared after marrying Jason under another identity.
“Where is she?” Olivia asked.
Brittany’s expression collapsed.
“I do not know.”
“You smiled when I left this house.”
“I thought you were taking Jason’s money.”
“He never had money.”
“I know that now.”
Brittany looked younger without Sharon beside her.
Frightened instead of smug.
“Mother said you were trying to destroy us. She said Walter betrayed the family because he became obsessed with protecting you.”
“Where are Jason and Sharon?”
“In the dining room.”
Olivia entered the house.
The same table from the flash drive video stood beneath the chandelier.
Jason sat with Judge Collins and a bank representative.
Sharon placed the metal case beside them.
A transfer agreement waited on the table.
Judge Collins looked toward Olivia.
“You are violating a medical protection order.”
Olivia set her phone on the table.
Sharon’s recorded confession began playing.
The judge’s face changed.
The banker reached for the documents.
Jason grabbed them first.
“That recording is illegal.”
“So is forging my name.”
Olivia looked at the banker.
“If you process that transfer, your name joins every other person in Daniel Hart’s ledger.”
The banker stepped away.
Sharon opened the metal case.
It was empty.
Jason stared at her.
“Where is the ledger?”
“I moved it before coming here.”
“You said we could trade it for immunity.”
“I said I could.”
Jason realized his mother planned to abandon him.
For the first time, the alliance between them fractured.
“You used me.”
Sharon looked at him without affection.
“I made you useful.”
Jason’s expression twisted.
He seized the property documents and moved toward the fireplace.
Olivia blocked him.
He grabbed her throat.
The dining room doors burst open.
Walter entered with David and federal agents behind him.
Jason pulled a gun from beneath his jacket and pressed it against Olivia’s ribs.
“No one moves.”
Walter stopped.
“Let her go.”
“You chose her over me.”
“I chose the person you were trying to destroy.”
“I am your son.”
Walter’s face hardened.
“No. You are the man I failed to stop.”
Jason dragged Olivia toward the side door.
Sharon quietly reached for the gun inside her handbag.
Olivia saw the movement.
So did Walter.
A shot exploded.
Jason released Olivia.
Blood spread across the white tablecloth.
But Jason was not the person who fell.
Sharon stared down at the wound in her chest.
Walter lowered his gun.
She smiled weakly.
“You still do not know where Daniel’s ledger is.”
Then she collapsed.
May you like
Jason ran through the courtyard carrying the black bag.
Continue to the next part: Jason escapes with the one object Olivia believed was already empty.
