Chapter 9 - THE STORAGE UNIT|
The marina was nearly deserted when Audrey arrived with Eddie, Miriam, and two federal investigators.
A light rain had begun to fall. The water was black beneath the dock lamps, and the boats rocked gently against their moorings.
Eddie walked beside Audrey.
“Unit 214.”
She held the small key in her hand.
“Do you think Victor knows we're here?”
“He may.”
“Then why aren't we waiting for more officers?”
“Because the longer we wait, the more time he has to remove whatever is inside.”
They reached the storage building.
The lock opened with a quiet click.
Inside were several boxes, a filing cabinet, and a metal desk. The room smelled of damp paper and old wood.
One investigator checked the corners.
“Clear.”
Audrey opened the first box.
It contained bank statements and shipping invoices. The second held photographs of men meeting at private restaurants. The third contained copies of foundation contracts.
Miriam picked up a folder.
“These are the original expansion agreements.”
Audrey looked at the pages.
Her signature appeared on several documents.
Every one was false.
“Photograph everything,” she said.
An investigator connected a laptop to a small security drive.
“There's a video file.”
He opened it.
Victor appeared on the screen, sitting in a private office.
He was speaking to someone outside the camera's view.
“The wife is the problem. Ronin won't sign the transfer while she's still involved.”
A man's voice answered.
“Then make him believe she has betrayed him.”
Victor smiled.
“He already thinks she wants to leave.”
“Use the pregnancy.”
“That's the plan.”
The video continued.
Victor placed a photograph on the desk.
It showed Audrey leaving her doctor's office.
“Once she signs the documents, the child becomes part of the trust arrangement. Ronin will have no choice but to cooperate.”
Miriam turned pale.
“What does that mean?”
Audrey looked at the investigator.
“Find the full video.”
He opened another file.
This one showed Victor meeting a man in a dark suit.
Audrey recognized him.
Douglas Prentiss.
The foundation chairman.
She stared at the screen.
Douglas had known about the missing money. He had received the envelope at the gala and watched her resign. He had never once warned her.
“Why would he be involved?” Miriam asked.
Audrey remembered the way his hand had tightened on the lectern.
“Because he was afraid of losing the expansion.”
A noise sounded outside.
Eddie drew his weapon.
“Everyone down.”
The storage door opened.
A man stepped inside.
Victor.
He looked at Audrey, then at the open boxes.
“You shouldn't have come.”
Audrey held her ground.
“You should have left my name out of your business.”
Victor smiled.
“You're not in a position to make demands.”
One investigator moved toward him.
“Federal agents. Hands where we can see them.”
Victor raised both hands.
Then the lights went out.
A gunshot echoed through the storage building.
Someone shouted.
Audrey dropped behind the desk. Eddie grabbed her shoulder and pulled her toward the rear exit.
When the emergency lights came on, Victor was gone.
The investigators secured the room and called for backup.
Audrey looked at the desk.
The original ledger was missing.
Miriam swore under her breath.
“He took it.”
Eddie checked his phone.
“Mrs. Keane, we have another problem.”
“What?”
“Ronin has been arrested.”
Audrey stared at him.
“On what charge?”
“Conspiracy and financial fraud.”
Her phone began ringing.
May you like
A message appeared from an unknown number.
Your husband is going to prison. Sign the transfer, and your baby will never have to know what his father did.
