Скачать или смотреть The Quiet Ledger - Short Story 747 (Int)

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Short Story 747 - The Quiet Ledger (Intermediate)

Martin Hale thought the night shift at the self storage depot would be boring. He sat in the small office, drinking weak tea and watching rain slide down the glass. The depot was on the edge of an industrial estate, surrounded by shuttered warehouses and empty delivery bays. Nothing ever happened there, which was exactly why criminals liked it.

At half past ten, a white van rolled through the gate. The driver showed a pass and smiled too quickly. Martin logged the number plate and waved him in, but something felt wrong. The van was cleaner than most and carried no company name. Martin noted it in the ledger, a habit he never skipped.

The next morning, the police arrived. A unit at the back had been forced open and several sealed crates were gone. The officer asked for records, and Martin handed over the ledger without hesitation. The number plate stood out like a stain. Within hours, the van was linked to a gang moving stolen medical equipment across the county.

Martin expected praise. Instead, he received a visit. Two men waited by his car after work. They spoke calmly and suggested he forget what he had written. One of them tapped the ledger, now under Martins arm, and smiled. Martin said nothing and drove away, his hands shaking.

That night, he made a decision. He copied the pages and hid the originals in a locker. Then he called a detective whose card he had been given. They agreed to meet in a busy supermarket car park at dawn, somewhere public and well lit.

The handover was tense but clean. The detective listened, asked careful questions, and promised protection. Over the next week, more vans were traced, more depots checked, and more arrests made. The gang collapsed quickly once their routes were exposed.

On Friday, Martin was called to the station to give a statement. The men who had threatened him were already in custody. One stared through the glass with cold anger, but said nothing. The ledger lay on the table between them, plain and powerful.

Months later, the depot was quiet again. Martin still worked nights, still drank weak tea, and still wrote everything down. He knew danger could arrive without noise, wearing a friendly smile. He also knew that small details, kept carefully, could stop very big crimes.

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Vocabulary Notes

Ledger
Meaning: a written or printed book used to record information, especially accounts or official details.
Example: "He noted it in the ledger, a habit he never skipped."
Explanation: In the story, the ledger is important because it records details that later help the police solve a crime.
Similar words: record book, log, register, account book

Industrial estate
Meaning: an area where factories, warehouses, and other industrial buildings are grouped together.
Example: "The depot was on the edge of an industrial estate, surrounded by shuttered warehouses."
Explanation: Industrial estates are often quiet at night, which can make them attractive to criminals.
Similar words: business park, factory area, industrial zone

Stood out
Meaning: was very noticeable or different from everything else around it.
Example: "The number plate stood out like a stain."
Explanation: This phrase shows that the van looked unusual and caught Martins attention.
Similar words: was obvious, caught the eye, was striking, was noticeable

Hesitation
Meaning: a pause or delay caused by uncertainty or doubt.
Example: "Martin handed over the ledger without hesitation."
Explanation: This shows Martin acted confidently and did not stop to think or hold back.
Similar words: pause, doubt, uncertainty, delay

In custody
Meaning: being kept by the police after being arrested.
Example: "The men who had threatened him were already in custody."
Explanation: This phrase is commonly used in crime stories and news reports.
Similar words: under arrest, detained, held by police


Story written by ChatGPT.

Image created by ChatGPT.

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