Chapter 9: The Trap
I drove like a man who had forgotten how roads worked.
Red lights became suggestions.
Street signs blurred past.
Monique sat beside me, gripping the dashboard.
Kayla was in the back seat.
None of us spoke for almost five minutes.
Then Monique said, “I know where he is.””
I slammed the brakes.
“Where?””
She grabbed the seat.
“Industrial park.””
“Why?””
“Harris owns a warehouse there.””
I stared at her.
“Harris?””
“Yes.””
“You said he moved away.””
“He did.””
“Then why would he own a warehouse here?””
“Because he never really left.””
The words made my stomach turn.
“Did you know he was back?””
“Yes.””
“How long?””
“A year.””
I looked at her.
“You've been lying to me for a year.””
“I was afraid.””
“You keep using that word.””
“Because it's true.””
“Fear doesn't explain everything.””
She turned toward me.
“You think I don't know that?””
Her voice cracked.
“I watched people I loved disappear because I was too afraid to tell the truth.””
I said nothing.
She continued.
“Raymond went to prison.””
“Harris stayed free.””
“Yes.””
“And you stayed silent.””
“Yes.””
“Then Jamal found out.””
She nodded.
“He started asking questions.””
“What questions?””
“About the cameras.””
“Why?””
“Because he noticed someone had been around the house.””
I glanced in the rearview mirror.
Kayla was staring out the window.
“Who?””
“Harris.””
“How do you know?””
“Because I saw his car.””
I tightened my grip on the wheel.
“You knew someone was watching us and said nothing?””
“I thought it would go away.””
“And when it didn't?””
“I panicked.””
“So you accused Jamal.””
She closed her eyes.
“I thought if Jamal left, Harris would stop watching.””
I looked at her in disbelief.
“You sacrificed my son.””
“I thought I was protecting him.””
“No.””
I shook my head.
“You were protecting yourself.””
She didn't argue.
Ten minutes later, we reached the industrial park.
Most of the buildings were dark.
The warehouse sat at the end of a dead street.
No sign.
No lights.
No cars.
I parked behind a row of abandoned trailers.
“Stay here,” I told Kayla.
“No.””
“Kayla.””
“Jamal is my brother.””
I looked at her.
She was crying.
“I should have believed him.””
I nodded.
“Then don't make me worry about you too.””
She swallowed.
“Okay.””
I turned to Monique.
“You stay with her.””
She grabbed my wrist.
“Marcus.””
“What?””
“Don't go alone.””
I looked toward the warehouse.
“I've gone into burning buildings with less information than this.””
“This isn't a fire.””
“No.””
I pulled my old flashlight from the glove box.
“This is worse.””
I moved through the side entrance.
The warehouse smelled like oil and dust.
My footsteps echoed.
A single light burned somewhere ahead.
Then I heard a voice.
“Marcus.””
I stopped.
Harris stepped from behind a concrete pillar.
Older now.
Gray hair.
Same calm smile.
Same posture.
Same eyes.
“Captain.””
He smiled.
“You still call me that.””
“Not anymore.””
He shrugged.
“Fair.””
“Where's my son?””
Harris looked almost amused.
“You always were protective.””
“Where is Jamal?””
“Safe.””
“You expect me to believe you?””
“You should.””
“Then let him walk out.””
Harris shook his head.
“Not yet.””
I stepped closer.
“You've been watching my family.””
“I've been watching you.””
“Why?””
“Because I needed to know whether Raymond had contacted you.””
“He did.””
Harris nodded.
“I figured.””
“Why did you target Jamal?””
“I didn't.””
“Then why did he disappear?””
“He ran.””
“Because someone followed him.””
“Yes.””
“Who?””
Harris looked toward the back of the warehouse.
“Raymond.””
I felt my chest tighten.
“That doesn't make sense.””
“It will.””
He reached into his jacket and pulled out a file.
“Your son discovered something.””
“What?””
“A recording.””
“What recording?””
“One your wife forgot existed.””
I looked at him.
“You mean the one in my garage?””
“Yes.””
“You knew it was there.””
“For seventeen years.””
“Then why didn't you destroy it?””
His smile vanished.
“Because I couldn't find it.””
I realized something.
“You didn't know Monique had it.””
“No.””
“And neither did Raymond.””
“No.””
“Then how did Jamal find it?””
“He searched.””
“Why?””
“Because he suspected his mother was lying.””
I stepped closer.
“My son is nineteen.””
“And smarter than everyone in this room.””
I hated that he sounded impressed.
“What does the recording prove?””
Harris looked at me.
“That Raymond didn't shoot at Monique.””
I stared.
“I already know.””
“No.””
Harris shook his head.
“You know one lie.””
“What do you mean?””
“The recording proves who started the shooting.””
“Monique.””
“Yes.””
“But that's not the worst part.””
I heard a metal door slam somewhere behind him.
My whole body tensed.
“Where's Jamal?””
Harris pointed toward the back.
“Go find him.””
I moved.
“Marcus.””
I turned.
Harris' face was suddenly serious.
“When you see him, ask him why he contacted Raymond.””
I frowned.
“What?””
“He didn't contact Raymond because he wanted the truth.””
He paused.
“He contacted him because Raymond has the evidence you don't.””
“What evidence?””
Harris said nothing.
I ran toward the back rooms.
I found Jamal sitting on a metal chair.
His wrists were tied.
His face was bruised.
“Dad!””
I dropped beside him.
“Are you hurt?””
“My ribs.””
I untied him.
“Who did this?””
He looked toward the doorway.
“Harris.””
“Where is he?””
“Gone.””
I helped Jamal stand.
Then he grabbed my arm.
“Dad.””
“What?””
“I found out why Mom lied.””
“I know.””
“No.””
He shook his head.
“You don't.””
He pulled a small flash drive from inside his shoe.
“This is the original.””
I stared at it.
“Original what?””
“The police evidence.””
“From seventeen years ago?””
“Yes.””
“Where did you get this?””
“Raymond gave it to me.””
“What is on it?””
“A video.””
“Of the shooting?””
“Yes.””
I looked at him.
“Why didn't you give it to me?””
“Because I was scared.””
“Scared of what?””
He swallowed.
“Because you’re in the video.””
The words hit harder than anything else that night.
“What?””
“You're in it.””
“That’s impossible.””
“You came to the house that night.””
I stared at him.
“I was twenty-five.””
“You were there.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
Jamal's eyes filled with tears.
“Dad, the video shows you.””
My mind raced.
Twenty-five years old.
Before I met Monique.
Before I knew Kayla.
Before any of this.
“How could I be there?””
“I don't know.””
He handed me the flash drive.
“But the video timestamp says you were.””
I looked at the tiny device in my palm.
Then I heard footsteps behind us.
Raymond entered the room.
He looked at Jamal.
Then at me.
His expression was grim.
“You finally know.””
I turned toward him.
“Know what?””
Raymond's voice dropped.
“The man who pulled the trigger that night…”
He stopped.
My phone began ringing.
Monique.
I answered.
Her voice came through in a whisper.
“Marcus, don't believe Raymond.””
Then the line went dead.
I looked at Raymond.
He said,
“Your wife just lied to you again.””
I stared at the flash drive.
“Who pulled the trigger?””
May you like
Raymond took one step closer.
“You did.””
