"Who?" Walter asked.
"I don't know. He never mentioned a name."
Tommy opened another file.
"There are payments to several consulting companies. One of them is called Northgate Advisory."
Gabriel leaned forward.
"Never heard of it."
Mara shook her head.
"Neither have I."
Tommy searched the company's registration information.
"It's registered to an address in another state. The listed director is a woman named Elaine Porter."
Walter looked at the name.
"Do we know her?"
Tommy shook his head.
"Not yet."
Gabriel turned toward the room.
"I want everybody to understand something. We're not going to start a war with Blackridge. We're not going to threaten anyone. We're not going to break into offices or steal documents."
One of the younger riders muttered something.
Gabriel looked at him.
"Did you hear me?"
"Yes."
"Good. We're going to document what happened, protect the families involved, and help the sheriff establish the truth."
Walter nodded approvingly.
"That's the right approach."
Gabriel smiled.
"Thank you."
Then Doc spoke.
"There's another issue."
Everyone turned.
He placed a photograph on the table.
It showed a burned building.
The workshop belonging to Dennis Parker.
"I visited Dennis this afternoon," Doc explained. "He says somebody has been asking about his insurance policy."
Gabriel frowned.
"Who?"
"He couldn't identify the man. But he remembers the vehicle."
Tommy enlarged the photograph.
A dark SUV stood near the workshop.
The license plate was partially visible.
Mara stared at the image.
"I've seen that vehicle."
Gabriel turned toward her.
"Where?"
"Outside the Blackridge office."
"Are you sure?"
She nodded.
"It belonged to Victor."
The room became silent.
Gabriel slowly sat down.
For several seconds, he looked at the photograph without speaking.
Then he said something nobody expected.
"I brought that man into this club."
Walter looked at him.
Gabriel continued.
"I trusted him with our accounts. I trusted him with our members' money. I trusted him when he said the financial records were clean."
Doc placed a hand on his shoulder.
"You couldn't have known."
"I should have."
"Gabriel—"
"I should have checked."
Walter watched him carefully.
There was guilt in the younger man's voice.
Not merely disappointment.
Something much heavier.
Walter knew that feeling.
He had spent years wondering whether he could have done something differently before Eleanor died. Whether he should have noticed her symptoms sooner. Whether he should have insisted on another examination.
Grief was full of questions that never received answers.
He leaned forward.
"Gabriel."
The club president looked up.
"Yes?"
"You remember what you said when Mara arrived at my house?"
Gabriel nodded.
"You said she was the most important person in your life."
"Yes."
"Then stop wasting time punishing yourself for trusting somebody. Start making sure the people you care about are safe."
Gabriel lowered his eyes.
Walter continued.
"Trusting someone isn't a crime. Betraying that trust is."
Doc smiled.
"That's going on the wall."
A few riders laughed.
The tension eased.
But Walter noticed that Gabriel still looked troubled.
The following morning, Walter received a call from Sarah.
His daughter.
He almost didn't recognize her number because he hadn't seen it on his telephone screen for several months.
He answered immediately.
"Sarah?"
"Hi, Dad."
Her voice sounded hesitant.
Walter stood near the kitchen window.
"How are you?"
"I'm okay. How are you?"
"I'm still here."
She laughed softly.
"I know."
There was an awkward silence.
Then Sarah asked whether he had been receiving strange visitors.
Walter frowned.
"Why?"
"Someone from a property company called me yesterday."
Walter's expression changed.
"What property company?"
"They said they were conducting an assessment of land near Cedar Hollow. They asked whether I was interested in helping resolve your outstanding mortgage."
Walter gripped the telephone.
"What did you tell them?"
"That I didn't know anything about your mortgage."
"Good."
"Dad, they knew my name. They knew where I lived. They even knew Daniel's name."
Walter closed his eyes.
"Did they threaten you?"
"Not exactly."
"What did they say?"
"They suggested that you might need help making decisions about your property."
Walter stared at Eleanor's photograph.
The words sounded familiar.
"Sarah, listen to me. I don't want you signing anything."
"I won't."
"And don't give them any personal information."
"I won't, Dad."
He hesitated.
Then he asked the question that had been sitting in his heart for years.
"How's Daniel?"
Sarah's voice softened.
"He's good. He's working at a construction company now."
"That's good."
"He asked about you recently."
Walter felt his throat tighten.
"He did?"
"Yes."
"What did you tell him?"
Sarah hesitated.
"I told him you were doing fine."
Walter looked down.
"Was that true?"
"I didn't know."
He nodded.
"Fair enough."
Sarah took a breath.
"Dad, I think we need to talk."
Walter sat down.
"All right."
"Not over the phone."