Chapter 7 - THE EMPTY WAREHOUSE
Richard’s phone led them to Warehouse Twelve.
Emma arrived first.
Tyler came six minutes later.
Vanessa arrived with private security.
They found Richard’s cane near the loading dock.
Blood stained the handle.
Emma ran inside.
“Dad!”
No answer.
Warehouse Twelve stored archived contracts and obsolete equipment.
Vanessa ordered her guards to split up.
Emma stopped her.
“No.”
Vanessa looked at her.
“We stay together.”
“You think my own security team is involved?”
“I think somebody is.”
Vanessa considered that.
Then nodded.
They searched.
Tyler found a broken cabinet.
Inside were folders labeled NORTHSTAR.
Empty.
Emma looked at Vanessa.
“What was here?”
“I don’t know.”
Tyler examined the lock.
“Cut professionally.”
A noise came from the mezzanine.
Emma ran upstairs.
Richard lay behind a stack of boxes.
Alive.
His forehead was bleeding.
“Dad!”
He opened his eyes.
“They took it.”
“What?”
“The ledger.”
Vanessa crouched beside him.
“Who?”
Richard looked at her.
“You.”
Vanessa went still.
“No.”
“I saw you.”
Emma stared.
Vanessa’s voice remained controlled.
“Richard, I arrived with Emma.”
“No. Before.”
“You’re confused.”
Richard tried to stand.
“You were wearing red.”
Vanessa looked down at her dress.
Red.
Emma’s suspicion surged.
Tyler said, “Wait.”
Everyone turned.
He pointed toward a security camera.
“If Vanessa was here earlier, it’ll be recorded.”
They accessed the footage.
At 2:14 p.m., a woman entered Warehouse Twelve.
Red dress.
Dark hair.
Vanessa’s height.
She walked directly toward the archive room.
At 2:21, Richard entered.
At 2:27, the camera feed cut out.
Vanessa stared at the screen.
“That isn’t me.”
Emma laughed bitterly.
“It looks exactly like you.”
“Which is why it isn’t me.”
“What?”
Vanessa turned.
“If I planned to attack Richard in a building full of cameras, would I wear the same bright red dress I wear constantly?”
“You’re arguing that looking guilty proves you’re innocent?”
“No. I’m arguing that someone wanted Richard to identify me.”
Tyler zoomed in.
The woman’s face never turned toward the camera.
Emma noticed something.
“Shoes.”
Vanessa wore red heels.
The woman on screen wore black flats.
Vanessa looked at Emma.
“Thank you.”
Emma hated that she felt relief.
Richard whispered, “She took the ledger.”
“What was in it?”
He looked at all three of them.
“Payments.”
“To who?”
“Judges. Inspectors. Politicians.”
Emma felt cold.
“Dad…”
Richard closed his eyes.
“I kept records.”
Vanessa stared at him.
“You told me those accounts were rumors.”
“I lied.”
Tyler laughed without humor.
“Of course you did.”
Emma looked at her father.
“Why keep evidence of your own crimes?”
Richard opened his eyes.
“Insurance.”
“Against who?”
“Everyone.”
A phone rang.
Not Emma’s.
Not Tyler’s.
Not Vanessa’s.
They followed the sound.
Inside the empty archive cabinet was a burner phone.
Emma answered.
A distorted voice said:
“You’re looking in the wrong direction.”
“Who is this?”
“Ask Richard what happened to Samuel Carter.”
Tyler’s face changed.
Emma looked at him.
May you like
The voice continued.
“Then ask Tyler why he came back.”
