Arthur unlocked the passenger door and waved me inside.

I sank into the torn vinyl seat, shivering violently as the heat from the engine remained off.

Arthur climbed into the driver’s seat, started the engine, and pulled away without turning on the headlights until we reached the main road.

“Where are we going?” I asked, my voice cracking.

“My place,” Arthur said, keeping his eyes on the road. “It’s a few miles south. Marcus doesn’t know about it.”

I pulled the leather ledger from my coat pocket.

It was damp, but the thick leather cover had protected the pages inside.

“What is in here, Arthur?” I asked, looking at the dark bound book.

“Everything,” Arthur said quietly. “The names of the buyers. The delivery dates. And the deeds to the properties Marcus bought with the money.”

“Thomas was helping him do all of this?” I asked, my chest tightening.

“Thomas was the driver,” Arthur said. “He knew what was in those crates. He knew they weren’t carrying oak tables.”

I looked out the window at the dark trees passing by.