Chapter 5 - WHY MICHAEL
Ryan searched Michael’s recent activity.
Two weeks earlier, Michael accessed Victor Hale’s archived case.
Why?
No formal assignment.
Ryan checked his texts.
Michael had sent one message three nights earlier:
You remember Hale?
Ryan had replied:
Barely. Why?
Michael:
Found something weird. Tell you Friday.
Friday.
The restaurant.
He never got the chance.
Ryan opened Michael’s desk.
Hidden beneath an old training manual:
printed tunnel maps.
Highlighted route.
Old convention service network.
Then a photo of a man entering a municipal records building.
Tall.
Black hoodie.
Face partly visible.
Michael had been investigating alone.
Ryan whispered:
“Idiot.”
Then found a note:
HALE NOT DEAD?
Under it:
MEAT = FALSE SCENE?
Then:
WHO OWNS BAY?
That question changed everything.
Property records showed the hidden service bay had been leased unofficially for twelve years to a shell company:
North City Cold Logistics.
Company dissolved.
Registered agent:
Paul Mercer.
Deceased.
But tax mailing address linked to:
Adrian Mercer.
Age thirty-five.
Former municipal infrastructure contractor.
Security subcontractor.
Industrial cleaning.
Vehicle wrapping.
Perfect skill set.
Photo:
white male.
Tall.
Lean.
Ryan stared.
The man from Michael’s photo.
Kidnapper.
Then Adrian’s family history.
His older brother:
Derek Mercer.
Killed in a corruption investigation eight years earlier?
No.
Reported suicide during prosecution for contract fraud.
Lead financial investigator on the case:
Victor Hale.
Adrian believed Hale destroyed his family.
Maybe Victor had been his first target.
Michael became second because he reopened the disappearance.
Then why Hannah, Marcus, Tara, Elliot?
May you like
Ryan did not know yet.
That worried him.
