He opened the door himself.
When he saw Mason, his expression did not change.
"I wondered when you'd come back."
Mason stood on the porch.
"We need to talk."
"About Samuel?"
"About everything."
Victor stepped aside.
The house smelled of old books and wood polish.
He led them into a sitting room.
Arthur remained near the door.
Mason placed the photograph of Samuel on the table.
"Is he alive?"
Victor looked at it.
"No."
"When did he die?"
"2017."
"Where?"
"At a private residence in the north."
"Who was with him?"
"Martin."
"Your son."
Victor nodded.
"Did he arrange the death?"
Victor looked at Mason.
"Samuel was ill. He died in his sleep."
"Was it reported?"
"Yes."
"Under what name?"
Victor did not answer.
Mason placed the foundation documents beside the photograph.
"Samuel left money to Daniel. He left money to you. He left money to your son."
Victor's expression hardened.
"You've been digging through things that don't concern you."
"They concern my family."
"Your family has been dead for years."
Mason stood.
"My father survived the attack. My grandfather disappeared. Anna was held against her will. Daniel was raised on lies. People were paid to keep witnesses silent. You don't get to tell me this doesn't concern me."
Victor looked toward Arthur.
Then he sighed.
"Samuel was not a man you could simply walk away from."
"Neither was William."
"No."
"Did you help him disappear?"
Victor nodded.
"Yes."
"Did you know he was alive when the grave was prepared?"
"Yes."
"Where did you take him?"
Victor stared at the photograph.
"To a safe house near the coast."
"Why?"
"Samuel had decided he was a threat. William had the ledger. He also had the names of people who had been protected by the operation."
"Did William escape?"
Victor nodded.
"He left three weeks later."
"Where did he go?"
"I don't know."
"Did you help him?"
"I gave him money and a new identity."
"Why?"
Victor looked at Mason.
"Because I had spent too many years helping Samuel destroy people. I wanted one thing in my life that wasn't another act of obedience."
Mason's voice remained cold.
"Why didn't you tell us?"
"Because I was afraid."
"Of Samuel?"
"Of what he had left behind."
Mason placed the foundation document in front of him.
"Your son is receiving money from the trust."
Victor's face changed.
"I didn't know."
"Do you expect me to believe that?"
"I didn't know how much."
"Did you know Martin was communicating with Samuel?"
Victor looked down.
"Yes."
"Did you know what they were discussing?"
"Not everything."
"Tell me."
Victor rubbed his hands together.
"Samuel wanted the network preserved. He knew he was dying. He wanted the money distributed to people who could keep certain records hidden."
"Which records?"
"The original ledger."
Mason stared at him.
"Where is it?"
Victor hesitated.
Then he looked toward the window.
"William took it."
"Where?"
"I don't know."
"You're lying."
Victor's eyes moved back to Mason.
"No. I'm telling you what I know."
Mason leaned forward.
"What did William say when he left?"
Victor was silent for several seconds.
Then he answered.
"He said he was going to find his son."
Mason felt his throat tighten.
"My father?"
Victor nodded.
"David."
"Did he find him?"
"I don't know."
Mason sat back.
His grandfather had survived.
He had escaped.
He had taken the ledger.
And he had gone looking for David.
But the family had never heard from him again.
Mason looked at Victor.
"Did he leave a message?"
Victor nodded.
He stood with difficulty and walked to a cabinet.
Inside was a small wooden box.
He brought it to the table.
The box contained a folded letter.
Mason recognized the handwriting.
William Cole.
He opened it.
David,
I know I have no right to ask you to trust me. I know what I did. I know that I helped create the danger that reached your door. I cannot undo it.
I have the records now. I am going to make sure they reach someone who can use them. I do not expect you to forgive me. I only ask that you let me know you are safe.
If you never want to see me again, I will accept that.
Your father,
William.
Mason read the letter again.
His father had received it.
Or at least, someone had intended him to receive it.
"Where did you find this?" he asked.
Victor looked at the table.
"William left it with me. He asked me to deliver it if he didn't return."
"Why didn't you?"
"Because I was afraid Samuel would find out."
Mason folded the letter.
"How long have you had it?"
"Since 1996."
Mason stared at him.
"For thirty years?"
Victor nodded.
"You allowed my family to believe my grandfather was dead."
"I believed it was safer."
"You allowed my father to believe his father had abandoned him."
"I thought—"
"You thought you could decide what truth other people deserved."
Victor lowered his head.
Mason stood.
"You're going to give this to the investigators. You're going to tell them everything you know about William, Samuel, and the foundation."
Victor nodded.
"I will."
"And your son?"
Victor looked up.
"I can't control him."
"Then help us establish what he did."
Victor looked toward the window again.
"I will."
Martin Hale was arrested two days later.
He was charged with financial crimes, conspiracy, and obstruction of justice.
The investigators seized computers, financial records, and several storage devices.
They found evidence that Martin had been distributing money to former members of the Blackwater network.
They also found correspondence with Samuel Price.
The messages showed that Samuel had instructed Martin to locate the original ledger.
One message was dated six months before Samuel's death.
The Cole boy will eventually discover the truth. Make sure the records cannot be used against us.
Another message, sent three days later, contained a photograph of Mason leaving Second Road.
The caption read:
He is asking questions again.
Mason stared at the image.
The surveillance had continued.
Even after Samuel's death, someone had been monitoring him.
Martin's arrest did not end the investigation.
It opened another one.
The investigators discovered that a private security company had been hired to watch Second Road.
The company had used several contractors.
One of them had been paid to photograph Mason, Leah, Arthur, and Emma.
The payment records also included a note about Daniel Mercer.
Maintain contact through legal counsel. Beneficiary must remain compliant.
Samuel had never intended Daniel to become independent.
He had intended him to remain a controlled asset.
Mason felt sick.
He thought of Daniel sitting in the interview room, asking whether he could see his mother.
He thought of Anna listening to her son's voice after thirty years.