Chapter 6 - the letter his father left)
Daniels hands shook as he opened the envelope.
Inside was a handwritten letter and a brass key.
The paper had yellowed slightly.
The handwriting was unmistakably Arthurs.
Danny,
If you are reading this, something has gone wrong.
Daniel had to stop.
He looked away.
Eleven years disappeared.
He was twenty seven again.
Standing outside a hospital while Margaret told him his father was gone.
Ortiz waited quietly.
Daniel continued.
I have found evidence that inventory is being moved through Warehouse Four without legal documentation. Eric is involved. I believe your mother knows more than she admits.
Daniel swallowed.
I do not yet know whether Margaret helped intentionally or whether Eric manipulated her, but I cannot ignore what I have seen.
If I confront them and this ends badly, do not trust the company records alone.
Find locker 214 at Union Station.
The key is enclosed.
Inside are copies.
Whatever happens, protect your family before you protect the Reeves name.
Your father
Daniel stared at the last sentence.
Protect your family before you protect the Reeves name.
For eleven years, Daniel had done the opposite without realizing it.
He protected the company.
Protected Margarets reputation.
Protected Eric from consequences whenever he created problems.
He had called it loyalty.
Arthur had apparently known loyalty could become a weapon.
Ortiz called her department.
Within an hour, police accompanied Daniel to Union Station.
Locker 214 sat in an older storage corridor.
The brass key fit.
Inside was a metal document box.
Daniel lifted it onto the floor.
There were tax records.
Warehouse manifests.
Photographs.
Signed statements.
And another envelope.
This one was labeled.
MARTIN HALE.
Daniel frowned.
Martin had worked for the company even before Arthur died.
He had been a junior compliance analyst then.
The envelope contained a statement dated eleven years earlier.
Martin had written that he discovered discrepancies in Warehouse Four and reported them to Arthur.
He named Eric.
He also named Margaret.
At the bottom, Arthur had written.
Martin is frightened. Keep his name out unless necessary.
Daniel looked at Ortiz.
Martin knew.
She nodded.
And now he is missing.
A second paper contained an address.
Not a home.
A rural storage property outside the city.
Police searched records.
The property belonged to a shell corporation connected to Erics vendors.
Ortiz immediately requested a warrant.
Daniel was told to return to the hospital.
He refused.
If Martin is there.
You cannot come.
He worked for me.
Daniel.
She used his first name for the first time.
If your brother is involved in a disappearance, this is no longer a family argument.
Daniel looked at her.
It stopped being one when my daughter ended up in the hospital.
Ortiz understood.
But she still made him stay behind.
Three hours later, she called.
They found Martin.
Alive.
Daniel sat down.
Where.
Inside an office building on the rural property.
Was he hurt.
Dehydrated. Frightened. No major injuries. He says two men prevented him from leaving.
Eric.
We are still interviewing him.
Margaret.
Not there.
Daniel looked toward the hospital window.
Where is my mother.
She left before officers formally restricted her movement.
But she came home with me.
Yes. Then she left the property while investigators were securing the scene.
Daniel stood.
Where did she go.
We do not know.
Daniel remembered the hospital corridor.
Margaret turning away.
The security guards blocking the exit by accident.
She had wanted to run before anyone accused her of anything.
Now she had actually disappeared.
Ortiz continued.
There is something else.
Daniel waited.
Martin says your mother tried to help him.
Daniel frowned.
What.
According to him, Eric had him taken to that property after he threatened to report the recent shipments. Margaret arrived yesterday.
Why.
Martin says she argued with Eric.
About what.
Letting him go.
Daniel felt confused.
The image did not fit.
Margaret had locked Emily and Sophie in a house without safe access to food.
She had taken Emilys phone.
She had searched for the memory card.
Yet now Martin claimed she had tried to protect him.
Ortiz said.
This may be more complicated than it looks.
Daniel laughed bitterly.
That is becoming a family tradition.
At the hospital, Emily listened as he explained.
She was quiet.
Then she said.
Your mother is guilty of what she did to us.
Yes.
But maybe not everything Eric did.
Daniel looked at her.
Does that matter.
It matters if we want the truth.
Daniel rubbed his face.
I do not know what truth means anymore.
Emily reached for his hand.
It means we stop guessing.
Sophie was sleeping nearby.
Daniel watched her chest rise and fall.
Then his phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
No one spoke.
Daniel heard breathing.
Mom.
Silence.
He stood.
Where are you.
Margarets voice finally came.
I did not kill your father.
Daniel closed his eyes.
You let him lie there for thirty four minutes.
She began crying.
It was the first time Daniel could remember hearing his mother cry like that.
Not controlled tears.
Not grief for an audience.
Real panic.
I was afraid.
Of prison.
Of losing everything.
You chose everything over Dad.
No.
Yes.
Daniel.
Where are you.
She did not answer.
Daniel said.
Eric has gone too far.
Margaret whispered.
You do not know how far.
Tell me.
I cannot.
Then stop calling.
Wait.
Daniel gripped the phone.
Margaret whispered.
Your brother is looking for Sophie.
Daniel went cold.
What did you say.
He thinks she heard where Emily put the second copy.
There is no second copy.
Eric does not believe that.
Daniel looked at Sophie.
Where is Eric.
Margaret said.
I do not know.
You expect me to believe you.
I am trying to keep you alive.
Daniel laughed once without humor.
You locked my wife and child in a house.
I was trying to get the card before Eric did.
By starving them.
I never meant.
Daniel cut her off.
Do not finish that sentence.
Margaret cried quietly.
Daniel.
Where is Eric.
I told you.
Where are you.
Silence.
Then Margaret said.
At the place your father should have burned to the ground.
The call ended.
Daniel looked at Emily.
May you like
She had heard enough.
Warehouse Four.
