Chapter 11 - Thomas’s Recorded Warning
The judge cleared the courtroom of unauthorized spectators.
Only the parties, attorneys, court staff, and approved witnesses remained.
The sealed audio was played under protective order.
Thomas’s voice filled the room.
It was weak but unmistakable.
“My wife says Rebecca never served. That is false.”
Rebecca closed her eyes.
She had not heard her father’s voice since before the crash.
Thomas continued.
“Elaine has taken control of my mail. Curtis is moving money from the firm. They want me to sign papers I do not understand.”
The family support officer asked whether Thomas felt physically unsafe.
A long silence followed.
“I do not know.”
“Do you want emergency assistance?”
“I want my daughter contacted.”
“Are you referring to Captain Rebecca Smith?”
“Yes.”
Elaine’s face tightened at the use of Rebecca’s rank.
Thomas’s breathing became uneven.
“Tell her I kept the watch.”
Rebecca looked toward Curtis’s wrist.
He was no longer wearing it.
The recording continued.
“If anything happens to me, tell her the blue ledger is not in the office.”
Elaine suddenly stood.
“This has nothing to do with the will.”
The judge ordered her to sit.
Carney explained that military personnel documented the call because it involved a deployed service member’s family welfare.
The officer attempted to alert local services.
Before a visit occurred, Thomas’s physician reported that he had died from natural cardiac complications.
No further investigation followed.
Rebecca’s attorney turned toward Elaine.
“What blue ledger?”
Elaine shook her head.
“I have no idea.”
Curtis looked at his mother.
That glance lasted only a second.
Rebecca saw it.
They both knew.
Thomas had kept records outside the company system.
The will was not the only reason they wanted control of the estate.
Rebecca remembered something from childhood.
Thomas used colored notebooks for different accounts.
Red for taxes.
Green for investments.
Blue for anything he considered too important to trust to a computer.
He once told Rebecca where he hid the blue notebook during family vacations.
Not in the office.
May you like
Inside the medal cabinet.
👉 Thomas’s final clue pointed to the same shadow box Elaine had tried to dismiss as fake.
