Chapter 24 - The Blue Room
Adrian Bell’s records company occupied a plain building between two empty warehouses.
The numbered key opened a basement locker.
Inside was a security card labeled BLUE LEVEL.
Reed’s team entered first.
They found Kyle sitting in a metal chair inside a windowless blue room. One wrist was secured to the chair, but he appeared more annoyed than frightened.
Eva sat across from him with his phone on the table.
When Mia entered, Eva looked relieved.
Kyle looked amused.
“You brought everyone.”
“You tried to use me against her,” Eva said.
“I showed you the truth.”
“You showed me the version that made you valuable.”
Reed released Kyle only to place him in restraints controlled by the officers.
“Where is Thomas?” Nora demanded.
Kyle nodded toward her locket.
“You have been carrying his work around your neck.”
“We already found the transparent strip.”
“That is only the index.”
Nora removed the photograph again.
Kyle instructed her to press the inner rim of the locket. A second compartment opened.
Inside was a black strip no wider than a fingernail.
It contained encrypted names linked to the Northbridge ownership structure.
Nora connected it to an offline reader.
The first names were familiar.
Jonathan Morrow.
Rachel Hayes.
Evelyn Mercer.
Thomas Hayes.
Celia Ward.
Then another name appeared.
Samuel Reed.
Everyone turned toward the detective.
Kyle laughed softly.
“You trusted him because he was not named Mercer or Hayes.”
Reed stared at the screen.
Beside his name were three words.
APPROVED OBSERVER. REPLACEMENT CLEARED.
Mia remembered Evelyn’s letter.
Trust no one who offers answers first.
Reed removed his badge and placed it on the table.
“I have never seen that record.”
May you like
Kyle leaned forward.
“That does not mean the record has never seen you.”
