Ride With Me (Paige and Jace) novel Chapter 429

CHAPTER 232-1

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he office at Lawson Customs had grown quieter, although the workshop outside remained alive with the sounds of tools, engines, and voices carrying through the open doors.

I sat behind the desk with Ethan’s copies of the recovered ledgers spread across the surface, while

Charlotte sat opposite me with a folder in her lap.

She had been staring at the same page for several minutes.

“You recognize something.” I said and Charlotte lifted her eyes toward me.

“Yes.” She said.

Her answer was quiet, but there was no hesitation behind it.

Jace stood near the office doorway with his arms folded across his chest, and although he appeared relaxed, I knew him well enough to see the tension in his shoulders.

He was watching Charlotte, but he was also watching Sarah.

Sarah had arrived twenty minutes earlier after Ethan discovered another name buried within the financial records recovered from the factory, and she had been standing near the filing cabinet

while Ethan explained what they had found.

The name meant nothing to me. It clearly meant something to Charlotte.

“I have seen this company before.” She said and Ethan leaned forward.

“Where?” Ethan asked as Charlotte opened the folder and pulled out several old pages.

“Vanessa had these documents years ago.” She said and Jace’s expression hardened.

“Vanessa Reed?” Jace asked and Charlotte nodded.

“She used to keep everything, especially anything involving money. She always said that if you understood the money, you understood the people behind it.” Charlotte said and Ethan took the papers from her carefully.

“What company?” Ethan asked as Charlotte pointed to a name near the bottom of the page.

“Caldwell Financial Services.” Charlotte said as Ethan’s eyes narrowed.

“That company dissolved eight years ago.” Ethan said.

“It dissolved officially. But Vanessa still used an accountant connected to it.” Charlotte replied and

Sarah stepped closer.

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CHAPTER 232 1

“Who?” Sarah asked as Charlotte looked at her.

“Martin Keeler.” Charlotte said.

The room became still and Sarah’s expression changed immediately.

“You are certain?” Sarah asked and Charlotte nodded.

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“I met him once, although Vanessa did most of the talking. He handled financial transfers for several companies, and he was very careful about keeping his name away from anything that

could attract attention.” Charlotte explained and Ethan looked through the records again.

“Martin Keeler appears here.” Ethan said as Sarah moved beside him.

“Where?” Sarah asked.

“Three times. Different companies, different dates, but the same account number appears in the

transaction notes.” Ethan said and Sarah leaned closer.

“Can you trace the account?” Sarah asked as Ethan gave her a small nod.

“I can give you everything we recovered.” Ethan said as Sarah looked toward Charlotte.

“Do you know where Keeler is now?” Sarah asked and Charlotte swallowed.

“No, but Vanessa once mentioned an accounting office outside the city. I remember the street because she complained about how far she had to drive.” Charlotte said.

“Do you remember the name?” Sarah asked and Charlotte closed her eyes for a moment as she

searched her memory.

“Briarwood Accounting.” Charlotte said and Ethan immediately began typing so Sarah reached for

her phone.

“I know that name.” Sarah said as Jace’s eyes shifted toward her.

“How?” Jace asked as Sarah paused.

“I’ve seen it in an older investigation.” Sarah said and Jace didn’t answer but his gaze remained

fixed on her and Sarah noticed.

“This is the second time you have reacted like that.” Sarah said.

“Because you keep knowing things before we tell you.” Jace replied and Sarah’s expression

tightened.

“I told you that I have sources.” Sarah said.

“And I told you that I don’t like not knowing what those sources are.” Jace said.

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