CHAPTER 14 — THE MAN WHO WATCHED SARAH HOUSE
“YOU TOOK A PICTURE OF MY WIFE.”
Noah sat across from Daniel Vale inside an interview room two weeks later.
Vale had been arrested after investigators traced a rented vehicle used near Sarah House.
He was fifty-six now.
Older.
Thinner.
But unmistakably the man from the foundation photograph.
Vale smiled.
“I took lots of pictures.”
Ryan watched through the observation glass.
His fists remained at his sides.
Years earlier, that smile would have sent him through the door.
Age had not made him weaker.
It had taught him where strength belonged.
Laura stood beside him.
“He wants Noah angry.”
“I know.”
Inside, Noah leaned back.
“You threatened my daughter.”
“I reminded you that actions have consequences.”
“That sounds like a threat.”
“That sounds like adulthood.”
Noah’s jaw tightened.
Vale continued.
“Your mother understood consequences.”
Ryan’s entire body went rigid.
Noah did not move.
“What did you know about Sarah?”
“Enough.”
“Were you involved in her death?”
“No.”
“North Valley?”
Vale smiled.
“Now we’re getting somewhere.”
He explained that North Valley Holdings had purchased dormant claims from shell companies after Nathan’s empire collapsed.
Legally, they argued, those claims were assets.
Morally, they were poisoned.
Vale did not care.
“You people built a foundation around guilt,” he said. “We built a company around paperwork.”
Noah stared.
“You stole from families.”
“We purchased claims.”
“Created through fraud.”
“Prove every one.”
That was the problem.
Samuel’s records could identify the properties.
But courts required documentation.
Original signatures.
Transfer chains.
Evidence.
Vale knew some had disappeared.
“You broke into Sarah House looking for the document case.”
Vale smiled.
No answer.
Noah continued.
“What was inside?”
Vale leaned forward.
“Ask your father.”
Ryan frowned behind the glass.
Noah did too.
“My father doesn’t know.”
“Doesn’t he?”
Ryan entered before Laura could stop him.
Vale smiled.
“There he is.”
Ryan sat beside Noah.
“You wanted me. You have me.”
Vale studied him.
“You look old.”
“So will you if you’re lucky.”
Noah almost smiled.
Vale’s expression cooled.
“Thomas Carter kept more than ledgers.”
Ryan said nothing.
“He kept original deeds.”
“Where?”
“You tell me.”
Ryan understood.
Vale believed the missing case contained them.
But if Vale had broken into Sarah House and found nothing, someone else had already taken it.
“Who beat you there?” Ryan asked.
For the first time, Vale’s face changed.
Tiny movement.
Enough.
Someone had.
Ryan leaned closer.
“You weren’t the first person inside.”
Vale looked away.
Ryan smiled without humor.
“Thank you.”
He stood.
Vale spoke.
“Ryan.”
Ryan stopped.
“Your father wasn’t trying to save those ranchers.”
Ryan turned.
“He was trying to save himself.”
Ryan nodded.
“I know.”
Vale seemed disappointed.
“You don’t care?”
“I care.”
Ryan looked at him.
“But I stopped needing dead people to be perfect a long time ago.”
Outside, Noah caught up.
“How did you know?”
“His face.”
“About someone beating him there?”
“People like Vale enjoy knowing things you don’t. They hate discovering someone knows something they don’t.”
Noah nodded.
Then his phone rang.
Emily.
She was crying.
“Noah.”
“What happened?”
“The document case.”
Everyone froze.
Emily continued.
“I know who took it.”
“Who?”
A pause.
“Samuel.”
Ryan stared.
“The accountant?”
“Yes.”
“How do you know?”
“Security footage from the old Black Pine agricultural office. He was there three weeks before he contacted us.”
Noah’s face hardened.
“He lied.”
Ryan looked toward the interview room.
May you like
Vale was watching through the glass.
And smiling.
