Chapter 6: The Address Nobody Was Supposed to Find
Marcus read the note twice.
Then he tore it in half.
"No.""
I stared at him.
"Marcus—"
"No, Denise. You're not going anywhere alone.""
"I wasn't planning to.""
He paced across Eleanor's living room, running his hands through his hair.
"We're calling the police. We're giving them the message, the photograph, the files, everything. Nobody is meeting anyone at some abandoned storage facility.""
Terrence stood near the doorway, his face pale.
"He's right.""
Marcus turned on him.
"You don't get to decide what's right anymore.""
Terrence flinched.
I placed the note on the table and smoothed out the torn pieces.
The address belonged to a storage complex on the edge of town, near an industrial park and a stretch of road lined with closed warehouses.
I knew the area.
Marcus and I had driven past it countless times.
It was isolated after dark, with few streetlights and almost no foot traffic.
Whoever had written the note had chosen the location carefully.
"Why midnight?"" I asked.
Terrence looked at the paper.
"Because that's when the next transfer was scheduled.""
Marcus stopped pacing.
"What next transfer?""
Terrence opened the folder again.
"One of the transaction records includes a scheduled movement of funds. The transfer was supposed to happen tonight.""
"How much?"" I asked.
"Approximately forty thousand dollars.""
Eleanor made a small, distressed sound.
"There's still more money?""
"Not necessarily from your account," Terrence said.
"The records suggest several clients were involved.""
Marcus looked at the clock.
It was almost four in the afternoon.
"We have time to contact the police.""
Terrence nodded.
"I'll call the investigator I've been working with.""
He stepped into the hallway.
I watched him dial.
There was something about his behavior that bothered me. He seemed desperate to control the situation, yet every time we asked a direct question, he offered another partial explanation.
I couldn't tell whether he was afraid for Jayden or afraid of what Jayden might reveal.
Marcus came to stand beside me.
"What are you thinking?""
I lowered my voice.
"I think Terrence knows more than he's telling us.""
Marcus glanced toward the hallway.
"You think he's involved?""
"I think he may have made a deal with Robert. I think he may have been trying to protect Jayden. And I think he's scared of what happens if this gets out.""
Marcus rubbed his jaw.
"That doesn't mean he's the one behind it.""
"No. But we can't ignore the possibility.""
He nodded slowly.
For the first time that day, I felt as if we were standing on the same side of the same problem.
Then Eleanor spoke from her chair.
"There's something I haven't told you.""
Marcus turned immediately.
"Mom?""
She clasped her hands in her lap.
"Three weeks ago, after Jayden left, I received a phone call from Robert.""
Terrence returned from the hallway and stopped.
"What did he say?""
Eleanor looked at him.
"He asked whether Jayden had brought me some documents.""
"Did you tell him yes?"" I asked.
"I said I'd signed a few papers, but I didn't know what they were. He told me everything was fine and that I shouldn't worry.""
Marcus frowned.
"Why didn't you tell us?""
"Because I thought it was routine. Then, a few days later, I received a letter from the bank, and I started to worry.""
She looked down at her hands.
"I called Terrence. He said he'd look into it.""
Terrence's face had gone rigid.
"Eleanor, did Robert ask you anything else?""
She nodded.
"He asked whether Marcus and Denise had been helping me with my accounts.""
My skin prickled.
"What did you say?""
"I told him you'd both been wonderful. That you'd helped me with groceries, appointments, and bills.""
She lifted her eyes to mine.
"Then he asked whether either of you had access to my online banking.""
Marcus swore under his breath.
"Why would he ask that?""
"I don't know.""
Terrence took a seat.
"Did he mention me?""
Eleanor hesitated.
Then she nodded.
"He said you were helping him review some old records.""
The room became very quiet.
Marcus looked at his brother.
"Is that true?""
Terrence rubbed his palms together.
"Robert contacted me after I started investigating the missing funds. He said he could explain the transactions if I gave him access to the records I'd collected.""
"And you did?""
"No. I refused.""
"When?""
"Two weeks ago.""
I thought about the phone call we'd overheard.
You promised he wouldn't be involved.
I turned toward Terrence.
"Who were you talking about when you said someone promised Jayden wouldn't be involved?""
He looked at me.
For a moment, he didn't speak.
Then he said, "Robert promised me he'd leave Jayden alone if I helped him recover the money.""
Marcus stared at him.
"You just said you refused to cooperate.""
"I refused to give him the files. But I agreed to meet him.""
"When?""
"Last Tuesday.""
"Where?""
"His old office.""
Marcus took a step toward him.
"You met the man suspected of stealing our mother's money without telling us?""
"I wanted to know what he was planning!""
"And what did you find out?""
Terrence looked down.
"That Jayden wasn't the only person he'd recruited.""
My stomach tightened.
"Who else?""
"I don't know. He wouldn't give me names.""
"Then how did you know Jayden was in danger?""
Terrence lifted his head.
"Because Robert told me he'd use Jayden as the fall guy if the investigation went any further.""
Marcus went completely still.
I gripped the edge of the table.
"You knew that, and you didn't tell us?""
"I thought I could stop him.""
"By yourself?""
"Yes!""
The force of his answer startled Eleanor.
Terrence lowered his voice.
"I'm sorry. I thought I could get the money back, get Jayden away from Robert, and keep Mom from having to go through a public investigation. I was wrong.""
Marcus stared at him for a long moment.
Then he sat down.
"Why would Robert trust you?""
Terrence looked away.
"Because I used to work for him.""
I felt the room tilt.
"What?""
Terrence swallowed.
"Years ago, before I started my own accounting business, I worked at Robert's firm. I helped process client records and reconcile accounts.""
Marcus stared at his brother.
"You never told us that.""
"I left twelve years ago.""
"Why?""
Terrence's silence answered before his words did.
"Because I discovered irregularities in some client accounts. I reported them internally. Robert convinced the partners that I'd misunderstood the records, and I was pushed out.""
Eleanor covered her mouth.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I was ashamed. I thought I'd failed.""
He looked at Marcus.
"Robert knew I understood the system. He knew I could trace the transactions. And he knew I'd come running if Mom was hurt.""
I watched him carefully.
"Did you ever help him move money?""
"No.""
"Did you ever sign documents for him?""
"No.""
"Did you know Jayden was working for him?""
"Not at first.""
"When did you find out?""
"Three weeks ago, when I traced one of the transfers to an account associated with Robert's office. I saw Jayden's name on the paperwork and recognized the pattern.""
I studied his face.
His answers sounded plausible.
But plausible wasn't the same as true.
Marcus finally spoke.
"We're giving everything to the police. All of it. No more private meetings. No more secret deals.""
Terrence nodded.
"Agreed.""
He picked up his phone.
Before he could make another call, it rang.
This time, the screen displayed a number I recognized.
Jayden's.
Terrence looked at me.
I reached for the phone.
"Put it on speaker," Marcus said.
I answered.
"Jayden?""
His voice was faint.
"Mom?""
"Where are you? Are you hurt?""
"I'm okay.""
"Are you alone?""
A pause.
"Not exactly.""
My heart hammered.
"Listen to me. We're going to get you out of this. You need to tell us where you are.""
"I can't.""
"Why not?""
"Because they're watching me.""
Marcus leaned closer.
"Who is watching you?""
Jayden took a shaky breath.
"Robert's people.""
Terrence closed his eyes.
I gripped the phone with both hands.
"Jayden, did you know the money was being stolen?""
"No. I swear to you, I didn't know. Robert told me the paperwork was for account consolidation. He said the transfers were temporary and that everything was approved.""
"Why didn't you ask Grandma?""
"I thought Uncle Terrence had already checked everything!""
Terrence's face changed.
Marcus turned toward him.
"What did you tell Jayden?""
Terrence shook his head.
"Nothing.""
Jayden continued, his voice cracking.
"Mom, I made a mistake. I signed things I shouldn't have signed. I should've asked questions. But I didn't know what he was doing until I saw the bank records.""
"Then why did you throw water in my face this morning?""
Silence.
The question hung between us.
When Jayden finally answered, he sounded ashamed.
"Because I knew you were looking into the money. I thought you were going to find my name, and I panicked. I wanted you to stop asking questions.""
My eyes filled with tears.
"You hurt me because you were afraid I'd discover what you'd done?""
"I didn't know what I'd done!""
"But you knew something was wrong.""
He began to cry.
"Yes.""
Marcus took the phone from me.
"Jayden, listen. We are going to the police. You need to tell them everything.""
"No!""
His shout made me recoil.
"If I go to the police, Robert will destroy everything.""
"He's already threatening you," Marcus said.
"You don't understand! He has copies of the documents I signed. He has messages between us. He can make it look like I planned the whole thing.""
Marcus's face tightened.
"Did you?""
"No!""
"Then tell the truth.""
Jayden's breathing became ragged.
"I can't prove it.""
Terrence stepped forward.
"Jayden, this is Uncle Terrence. Do you know where Robert is keeping the original records?""
A long silence followed.
Then Jayden whispered, "I know where he keeps the files.""
"Where?""
"The storage facility.""
Everyone looked at the note on the table.
Jayden continued.
"There's a unit with a red door. The number is 214. He keeps the originals there. The documents, the account lists, everything.""
Marcus grabbed the note.
"How do we get to you?""
"You can't. Not yet.""
"Jayden—"
"Mom, listen to me. Robert doesn't know I called you. If he finds out, he'll know I told you where the files are.""
I swallowed hard.
"Then come home.""
"I can't.""
"Why?""
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"Because the person who gave Robert access to Grandma's accounts is still inside your house.""
The words struck me like a physical blow.
I looked around Eleanor's living room.
Marcus stood beside me.
Eleanor sat frozen in her chair.
Terrence was right in front of us.
"Jayden," I whispered, "what are you talking about?""
He took a shaky breath.
"I saw the original authorization. The signature was forged, but the person who approved the transfer wasn't Robert.""
A noise sounded behind him.
Jayden stopped speaking.
"Jayden?""
His voice came back, barely audible.
"Mom, if Uncle Terrence says he has the original records, don't believe him.""
Terrence's face drained of color.
Marcus slowly turned toward his brother.
Then the call ended.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Finally, Terrence spoke.
"He's lying. He's scared, and Robert is manipulating him.""
Marcus stared at him.
"Maybe.""
Terrence stepped closer.
"Marcus, you know me.""
Marcus's expression was unreadable.
"That's the problem, Terrence. I thought I did.""
A siren sounded in the distance.
Terrence glanced toward the window.
Then his phone vibrated.
He looked at the screen.
I watched the color disappear from his face.
"What is it?"" I asked.
He didn't answer.
I stepped closer and saw the message.
It contained a photograph of the storage facility.
Unit 214.
The red door stood open.
Inside, the shelves were empty.
May you like
Beneath the photograph was a message from an unknown number.
*YOU'RE TOO LATE. THE ORIGINALS ARE GONE. AND THE NEXT PERSON WE'RE VISITING IS DENISE.*
