Chapter 8 - The False Emergency
Mira shut down the screen.
Rosa returned the cassette to the cabinet as Daniel descended the stairs.
He stopped when he saw the three women.
For several seconds, no one spoke.
Daniel looked around the hidden room.
“So this is what you have been doing.”
Evelyn stepped between him and the cabinet.
“Did you order the roof panel replaced?”
“You met Lila Grant.”
“That is not an answer.”
Daniel glanced at Mira.
“You are interfering with my marriage.”
“I represent Evelyn,” Mira replied. “Anything you say may become evidence.”
He laughed once.
“Evidence of what?”
“Attempted coercion, illegal surveillance and possible conspiracy to cause serious harm.”
Daniel’s eyes returned to Evelyn.
“I never wanted you hurt.”
“You installed monitoring software on my phone.”
“To protect you.”
“You tried to make me surrender our daughter’s inheritance.”
“To protect the company.”
“You signed the order for defective glass.”
His confidence faltered.
“I signed hundreds of maintenance approvals.”
“Celeste said the roof would convince me.”
“My mother uses dramatic language.”
“What happens at the gala?”
“Nothing, if you sign.”
Mira stepped forward.
“That sounded very much like a threat.”
Daniel’s face hardened.
“Leave my building.”
Evelyn remained where she was.
“This building belonged to my father before your family erased his name from it.”
“Your father was an engineer. My family paid him.”
“My daughter will own thirty-eight percent after she is born.”
Daniel looked at the active server.
“You found the trust.”
“I found more than the trust.”
For the first time, fear appeared in his eyes.
“Evelyn, listen to me. There are people involved in Northbridge who are more dangerous than my mother.”
“Then help me expose them.”
“I cannot.”
“Because you are one of them?”
“Because they will destroy everyone connected to us.”
“You already chose to destroy me.”
Daniel moved toward her.
Mira raised her phone.
“I am recording.”
He stopped.
An alarm suddenly sounded upstairs.
The hidden room’s lights turned red.
A mechanical voice announced a fire on the seventeenth floor.
Smoke began entering through the staircase.
“Move!” Daniel shouted.
They climbed out of the archive.
The corridor was empty, but smoke rolled from the ventilation system.
Rosa coughed.
Daniel led them toward the emergency stairs. When he opened the door, no smoke appeared inside.
Mira touched the wall beside the vent.
“This is theatrical smoke.”
Daniel looked surprised.
“You created this,” Evelyn said.
“No.”
A figure wearing a respirator appeared at the far end of the corridor.
The person carried a black case.
The same case Lila had shown Evelyn.
“Lila?” Evelyn called.
The figure turned and ran.
Adrian Cole emerged from another stairwell with two security officers.
“Stop!” he shouted.
The figure disappeared into the freight elevator.
Adrian ordered his officers to follow.
Then he faced Daniel.
“Why are you on a restricted floor?”
Daniel pointed at Evelyn.
“Ask my wife.”
Adrian looked at her, then at Rosa.
Recognition passed between him and the maid.
“You remember me,” he said.
“I remember the sound of you turning a lock,” Rosa replied.
Adrian dismissed the remaining officer.
“I was twenty-three,” he said. “William Hart told me there was a structural emergency. I locked the rescue door for seven minutes.”
“You left Nathan outside,” Rosa said.
“And I opened it when I understood what was happening.”
“No. I opened another entrance.”
Adrian looked away.
“I have regretted that night for thirty years.”
“Regret is not evidence,” Evelyn said.
“No, but this might be.”
He gave her a security tablet.
It displayed roof camera footage from the previous day.
The maintenance worker was visible beside the weakened panel.
Celeste entered the frame.
She handed him an envelope.
Daniel watched over Evelyn’s shoulder.
“That proves nothing.”
Adrian enlarged the image.
Celeste’s lips could be read clearly.
Friday. Make sure she reaches the door.
Daniel turned pale.
“My mother would not do this.”
Evelyn looked at him.
“You heard her in the archive.”
“She wants the signature. She does not want you dead.”
“Do you?”
Daniel’s answer took too long.
Adrian locked the tablet.
“The main roof camera will be disabled during tomorrow’s gala. I received the order this morning.”
“From whom?” Mira asked.
Adrian looked at Daniel.
“His executive account.”
Daniel shook his head.
“I did not send it.”
“Then someone controls your account.”
Adrian lowered his voice.
“I can mirror the camera to an independent server, but the backup will only survive if Aegis activates.”
“That requires executive interference with the rescue door,” Evelyn said.
Daniel looked at her.
“You are not going onto that roof.”
It was the first command from him that sounded like fear rather than control.
Evelyn met his eyes.
“Then tell me why your mother is expecting me there.”
His phone rang.
Celeste’s name appeared on the screen.
Daniel answered.
May you like
His mother spoke loudly enough for everyone to hear.
“Bring your wife home. We have one day left.”
