Chapter 8 - Behind Lydia’s Piano
Rowan entered the condo first.
Two officers searched every room, balcony and storage space. No one was inside.
The security camera in the entry hall had been disabled remotely. Its memory card was missing.
Elena stood in the living room where Lydia’s piano had once rested.
A pale rectangle remained on the wooden floor. The wall behind it looked ordinary except for a narrow crack near the baseboard.
Rowan tapped the plaster.
The sound changed near the center.
An officer brought tools from the maintenance room. They removed a section of wall and found a steel panel hidden behind the plaster.
The brass key from box 417 fit the lock.
Inside the compartment were four folders, a portable drive and a sealed envelope addressed to Maya.
No flash drive.
Elena opened the first folder.
It contained property deeds, loan agreements and correspondence between Mercer attorneys. The second held photographs of Adrian meeting with bankers under the name Adrian Vale. The third contained medical records belonging to Claire Bennett.
The final page stated that Claire had been admitted to a private clinic eight years earlier with memory loss and severe anxiety.
The clinic was owned by a Mercer subsidiary.
Her discharge record had been signed by Celeste.
“She was alive after the date they announced her death,” Elena said.
Rowan examined the signature.
“Yes.”
“Did she leave the clinic?”
“According to this, she was transferred.”
“To where?”
“The destination is blank.”
The portable drive was encrypted.
Rowan placed it inside an evidence bag.
Elena opened the sealed envelope addressed to Maya.
Inside was a handwritten note from Lydia.
Maya,
Claire believed you would finish what she started. I believed you would expose her before she was ready.
Both of us may have been wrong.
If Elena finds this, the Mercer plan has already moved forward. Protect her, but do not allow her to access the Orchard files until you know who controls Rowan.
Elena stopped reading.
Rowan had seen his own name.
“What are the Orchard files?” he asked.
“I do not know.”
“Who controls me?”
“I was hoping you did.”
Rowan looked offended, then tired.
“My former captain shut down the Voss investigation. He now runs security for Mercer Holdings.”
“Celeste controls him?”
“Possibly.”
“Could he control you?”
“No.”
“Then why did Lydia ask the question?”
“Because she did not know me.”
“Or because she knew something I do not.”
The old phone rang.
This time, Rowan put it on speaker.
A distorted female voice spoke.
“You opened the wall too early.”
Elena stepped closer.
“Claire?”
The caller ignored her.
“Rowan, leave the condo.”
“Identify yourself,” he said.
“Ask your wife what happened at St. Helen’s Clinic.”
Rowan’s face changed.
“My wife is dead.”
“No,” the voice replied. “Your wife was registered dead.”
The call ended.
Elena stared at Rowan.
He backed away from the phone.
“What does that mean?”
“I do not know.”
But he did.
Elena could see it in the way his hands tightened.
Rowan walked toward the balcony.
“My wife, Anna, died in a boating accident nine years ago. Her body was recovered.”
“Did you identify it?”
“No. Her brother did.”
“Where did she work?”
“At St. Helen’s Clinic.”
The same clinic that had held Claire.
Rowan called his partner and ordered him to verify Anna’s death records.
Before the call ended, the lights flickered.
A loud sound came from the hallway.
An officer opened the condo door.
A woman stood near the elevator in a pale coat.
The scar beside her eyebrow was visible.
“Elena?” she called.
Maya stepped from behind the corner and grabbed the woman’s arm.
The elevator doors opened.
May you like
Both women disappeared inside.
By the time the officers reached the hallway, the elevator had already begun descending.
