Chapter 6 - THE MAN IN THE PHOTOGRAPH
For the first time since the dinner, Julian felt genuinely disoriented.
Not angry.
Not suspicious.
Disoriented.
Someone had photographed him six months before meeting Clara.
Someone connected to evidence Clara had hidden years earlier.
And whoever had emptied the safe deposit box wanted them to know.
Detective Bishop sealed the photograph inside an evidence sleeve.
"Who knew about the box?"
Clara shook her head.
"No one."
"Your husband?"
"No."
Julian looked at the bank manager.
"Access records."
The manager hesitated.
"I'll need authorization."
Bishop displayed her badge.
"Start preparing them."
Twenty minutes later, the answer became stranger.
Nobody had physically accessed Clara's box in fourteen months.
Julian looked at Bishop.
"Then how did the documents disappear?"
The manager looked uncomfortable.
"Someone could have substituted the box."
Clara stared.
"What?"
"These units can be removed for maintenance."
"Without logging access?"
"Not legally."
Julian's voice hardened.
"Who has authority?"
The manager named three executives.
One of them was Nathan Hayes.
Julian laughed softly.
His cousin had served on the bank's advisory board for six years.
Bishop immediately called another detective.
Julian turned to Clara.
"We're going home."
She shook her head.
"No."
"Why?"
"Because Nathan is there."
"Exactly."
"No, Julian. If he was involved, then walking back into that house tells him we know."
"He already knows."
"How?"
Julian held up the photograph.
"Because whoever did this wanted us to."
Clara studied him.
"Then this isn't about hiding anymore."
"No."
"What is it about?"
Julian looked at the city beyond the bank lobby.
"Moving us."
Clara frowned.
"Moving us where?"
"Wherever they want us to go next."
That next step arrived before they reached the car.
Marcus opened the rear door.
Something lay on Clara's seat.
A black phone.
Cheap.
Prepaid.
Not theirs.
Marcus immediately pulled his firearm and scanned the garage.
Julian stopped.
The phone rang.
Nobody touched it.
It rang again.
Bishop ordered everyone back.
Marcus swept the car.
No explosives.
No visible threat.
On the fifth ring, Julian answered using speaker mode.
A distorted voice spoke.
"Mr. Hayes."
Julian's eyes narrowed.
"Who is this?"
"Your wife has been carrying a dead man's secret for nine years."
Clara went rigid.
"What dead man?" Julian asked.
"Ask her about Daniel Voss."
Clara's face collapsed.
Julian saw it.
"You know that name."
The caller continued.
"Midnight. Pier seventeen. Bring the photograph."
Bishop signaled silently for officers to trace the call.
Julian asked, "What happens if I don't?"
The voice laughed.
"Then you'll never learn why your father was watching Clara before you met her."
The line died.
Julian looked at Clara.
"Who was Daniel Voss?"
She sat slowly on a concrete barrier.
"My client."
"What happened to him?"
May you like
Clara looked at him.
"He died the week before your father introduced us."
