Shipping companies.
Then one line circled in red:
SECOND LEDGER NEVER RECOVERED.
Charlie looked at Hassan.
"You kept this?"
"I kept copies."
"Why?"
"Because I knew someday someone would come looking."
"Did Richard?"
"Eventually."
Charlie closed the folder.
"So what does this have to do with the diner?"
Hassan stared at her.
"Nothing."
"Then why did you come there?"
He smiled.
"Coffee."
She didn't believe him.
"Tell me the truth."
Hassan sighed.
"I knew Richard had begun looking for me."
"And you chose the Copper Skillet?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because I knew he wouldn't expect me to be there."
Charlie frowned.
"You're telling me you deliberately walked into a diner owned by someone connected to him?"
"Yes."
"And you knew Bradley might recognize the vest?"
"I didn't expect Bradley."
Charlie stared.
"Then what did you expect?"
Hassan didn't answer.
A car horn sounded outside.
Both turned.
Two black SUVs had stopped in front of the building.
Hassan immediately closed the folder.
"Stay behind me."
Charlie felt her pulse accelerate.
"Who are they?"
"I don't know."
"You said this was about old records."
"It is."
"Then why are people following us?"
Hassan looked at her.
"Because someone believes the second ledger is still alive."
"What does that mean?"
Hassan opened the back door.
"Run."
The Chase
They ran through the back corridor.
Charlie heard footsteps behind them.
The storage facility seemed endless.
Hassan moved surprisingly fast for a seventy-six-year-old.
Charlie followed.
"Left!"
They turned.
A door appeared.
Hassan kicked it open.
They emerged into an alley.
Rain hammered the pavement.
A black SUV turned the corner.
Hassan grabbed Charlie's arm.
"Down."
They ducked behind a dumpster.
The SUV slowed.
A door opened.
Someone stepped out.
Charlie couldn't see his face.
Then another vehicle approached.
Police.
The SUV immediately drove away.
Charlie exhaled.
Hassan remained still.
"Are you okay?"
She nodded.
"Who were they?"
"I don't know."
"You keep saying that."
"Because it's true."
"Then tell me what you do know."
Hassan looked at her.
"I know someone is afraid."
"Of what?"
"Of the truth."
The police officer approached.
"Mr. Holmes?"
Hassan stood.
"Yes."
"I'm Detective Alvarez."
He looked at Charlie.
"You two all right?"
Charlie nodded.
Detective Alvarez handed Hassan a card.
"We found your name in an old case file."
Hassan smiled.
"I assumed you would."
Alvarez looked surprised.
"You knew?"
"I suspected."
"What did you find?"
"That's the problem."
Alvarez lowered his voice.
"We found a second copy of the ledger."
Hassan's face changed.
"Where?"
"That's classified."
Hassan stared at him.
"Who has it?"
Alvarez didn't answer.
Charlie suddenly understood.
"Richard Hayes."
Alvarez looked at her.
"Why would you think that?"
"Because he offered me money."
"How much?"
"Five thousand."
Alvarez frowned.
"For your statement?"
"Yes."
He looked at Hassan.
"That's not good."
"No," Hassan said.
"It isn't."
Alvarez sighed.
"We need both of you to come with us."
Charlie hesitated.
"Am I in danger?"
Alvarez answered honestly.
"Possibly."
She looked at Hassan.
He nodded.
"Go."
Charlie took a breath.
Then followed the detective.
For the first time in her life, she realized something.
Her job at the diner had not merely placed her behind a counter.
It had placed her at the center of something much larger.
And she had no idea how far it went.
Emily
Charlie returned home after dawn.
Emily was sitting on the couch.
She looked worried.
"Where were you?"
Charlie froze.
"Why?"
"Because someone came here."
Charlie felt cold.
"What?"
"A man."
"What did he want?"
"He asked for you."
"What did he look like?"
Emily described him.
Charlie recognized the description.
Richard's employee.
She immediately locked the door.
"Emily, pack a bag."
"What?"
"We're leaving."
"Why?"
"Because I said so."
Emily stood.
"Charlie."
"I'm serious."
Her sister looked at her.
Then Charlie finally told her everything.
The diner.
Hassan.
Bradley.
The video.
Richard.
The ledger.
Emily listened silently.
When Charlie finished, Emily asked:
"Is Hassan dangerous?"
Charlie thought about it.
"No."
"How do you know?"
"Because he had every opportunity to hurt Bradley."
"But he didn't."
"No."
Emily nodded.
"Then I trust him."
Charlie smiled.
"You've never even met him."
"Neither had you."
That made Charlie laugh.
Later that afternoon, Hassan arrived.
He stood outside the apartment.
Emily opened the door.
She looked up at him.
"You're old."
Hassan laughed.
"So I've been told."
"You look like a biker."
"I am a biker."
"Charlie said you're a soldier."
"That too."
Emily smiled.
"You're complicated."
"Very."
Hassan looked at Charlie.
"We need to move you somewhere safe."
"Where?"
"I know a place."
"Can Emily come?"
"Of course."
Emily grabbed her inhaler.
Charlie noticed.
"You okay?"
"Yeah."
Hassan watched quietly.
Then he said:
"How much does her medication cost?"
Charlie shook her head.
"Don't."
"I asked a question."
She told him.
Hassan nodded.
"That's manageable."
Charlie frowned.
"What does that mean?"
"It means I'll handle it."
"No."
"Charlie."
"I don't want your money."
Hassan smiled.
"You really don't know when to accept help."
She looked at him.
"Neither do you."
He laughed.
"Fair enough."
For the first time since their lives had collided, Charlie smiled.
Then a phone rang.
Hassan answered.
His expression changed.
"What?"
He listened.
Then slowly sat down.
"Where?"
Silence.
He closed his eyes.
"Understood."
He ended the call.
Charlie knew immediately.
"What happened?"
Hassan looked at her.
"They found the ledger."
"Where?"
"In Richard Hayes's office."
Charlie swallowed.
"And?"
Hassan stood.
"It's not the second ledger."
"What is it?"
He looked toward the window.
"It's a list of everyone Richard plans to eliminate."
The Truth Comes Out
The list contained fourteen names.
Three were lawyers.
Two were former investigators.
One was a journalist.
One was Detective Alvarez.
And one was Hassan Holmes.
But the final name shocked Charlie.
Charlie Henderson.
She stared at the page.
"Why me?"
Hassan didn't answer.
"Why is my name on this?"
"Because you witnessed the assault."
"That's not enough."
"No."
He pointed to another line.
Potential witness to original evidence.
Charlie looked confused.
"I don't know anything about the old case."
"Maybe you know more than you think."
She shook her head.
"I've never heard of it."
Hassan looked at her.
"Your mother worked for William Hayes."
Charlie froze.
"What?"
"Before she married your father."
"No."
"Her maiden name was Henderson."
"I know."
"She worked as an accountant."
Charlie felt the room spin.
"My mother was a nurse."
"Later."
Hassan opened another file.