Chapter 505 Transfer Records
Emma stood in the study of the Russell Mansion, her fingers lightly grazing the yellowed documents.
Since Scarlett's mysterious disappearance, the police had scoured all the Russell family properties but still couldn't locate the ledger.
"Ms. Jones, we found something new," Darren called from the doorway, holding an old, dusty safe. "It was hidden in a compartment in the study."
Emma quickly walked over. The safe was covered in dust, and the lock looked like it had been tampered with. "Has someone already opened it?"
"Yeah, and not too long ago," Darren said, putting on gloves and carefully opening the safe. "It's empty, but we found this."
A yellowed photograph slid out from the bottom of the safe.
It was a family portrait. The elderly man in the center was clearly Charles, surrounded by two couples and two young boys.
All seven were smiling, with the newly constructed Russell Group building in the background.
Charles and one of the women had large red Xs drawn over their faces.
Emma didn't recognize the couples, but the boys looked familiar.
"What is this?"
"It's a Russell family portrait. The older couple is Mr. Michael Russell and his parents, and the younger couple is Mr. George Russell and his family. The two people crossed out are Charles and Scarlett."
"Grandpa's poisoned and can't stand, and Scarlett's missing," Emma frowned. "Is this connected to the photo?"
Darren's phone suddenly rang. After answering, his expression turned unusually serious.
"The forensic team re-examined the photos from Michael's parents' car accident and found evidence of tampering with the brake system."
Emma gasped. She suddenly remembered something Charles had said when he was still lucid: "Ledger... Michael... danger..."
"Mr. Moore, could the ledger contain," her voice trembled, "the truth about Michael's parents' death?"
That afternoon, the police raided Orion's private clinic.
In the basement safe, they found a black notebook. Opening the first page, it read: [Russell Group financial records, Michael Russell.]
"This isn't a ledger," Darren quickly flipped through the pages. "It's Michael's investigation into the company's internal financial anomalies!"
The records showed that eighteen years ago, a large sum of money was transferred through complex overseas accounts.
The handwriting on the last few pages was different, as if added later: [Discovered the truth... Scarlett involved... must stop...]
Emma's hands shook uncontrollably. These fragmented clues were piecing together a terrifying truth: Scarlett might be involved in Michael's parents' death, and Charles had discovered it.
As night fell, a black sedan silently drove into an abandoned factory on the outskirts.
In the back seat, Scarlett, sedated, leaned drowsily against the window.
The man in the driver's seat removed his sunglasses, revealing a face almost identical to George's.
"Wake up, Mom," the man slapped Scarlett's face, his voice cold and mocking. "We're home."
Scarlett barely opened her eyes, her blurry vision catching sight of her "son's" face. She instinctively smiled, "George, I feel awful."
Michael sneered, dragging her into the dimly lit factory. The rusty iron door slammed shut behind them, echoing eerily.
He tied Scarlett to a chair and turned on a blinding spotlight.
"Scarlett, do you remember how Michael's parents died? Tell me, did you mess with their brakes?"
Scarlett squinted in the harsh light, her mind growing foggy again. "Brakes? What brakes? I want to see Jack."
"Stop playing dumb!" Michael grabbed her throat, pulling a syringe from his pocket. "Do you know what this is? Orion's special truth serum. He'll be thrilled to see you like this."
Scarlett's mind was in chaos.
She couldn't understand why her cousin would help someone harm her.
She couldn't fathom why her son George had suddenly gone mad.
They were her family!
Why did they want to hurt her?
And then there was Phoenix, she had been so good to her niece, but Phoenix wanted to tear her apart!
Why?
Oh, Phoenix was Orion's daughter.
Could Phoenix have sent Orion to harm her?
But Phoenix had already hurt her enough, why wouldn't Orion let her go?
And what about George?
As the needle pierced her skin, Scarlett let out a blood-curdling scream.
The drug quickly took effect, her eyes becoming unfocused, her head drooping to her chest.
"Speak! Did you kill Michael's parents?" Michael yanked her hair.
"It wasn't me, it was Orion. He wanted money," Scarlett's voice was like a dream. "I just told him where the car keys were."
Michael's face twisted with rage. He turned to the toolbox and pulled out a rusty pair of pliers. "And Grandpa? Did he order you to do it?"
"The ledger, he found the ledger."
"What ledger? What's in it?"
"Eighteen years ago, I transferred money to the Lewis family," Scarlett suddenly struggled violently. "Orion said he must be silenced forever."
Just then, the sound of a car engine roared outside the factory.
Michael turned off the spotlight and looked out the window to see a familiar black Mercedes.
It was Jack's car!
"Perfect." He smiled sinisterly, pulling a scalpel from his pocket. "Since you can't remember the details, let's have your husband help you recall."
Scarlett seemed to realize something, tears suddenly streaming from her cloudy eyes. "No, please, George, Jack is your father."
Michael ignored her, putting on George's signature gold-rimmed glasses, straightening his tie, and walking towards the door.
As he opened it, his expression had transformed to look exactly like George's—gentle and elegant.
"Dad, you're here." He smiled, extending his hand to the man stepping out of the car. "Mom's condition is quite special. I think you should see for yourself."
Jack eyed his "son" suspiciously. Hadn't he and George already torn each other apart?
Why had this ungrateful son suddenly called him here? What was he planning?
He couldn't possibly be planning to kill his father, could he?
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