Chapter 5 - THE MAN MICHAEL TRUSTEDThomas Reed stepped into the storage room.
Perfect suit.
Umbrella in hand.
No sign of panic.
Michael stared at him.
“You followed us.”
Thomas sighed.
“I was afraid you would do exactly this.”
Emily whispered:
“How did he know?”
Michael stepped forward.
“You knew about the warehouse.”
Thomas looked at the flash drive.
“You found it.”
“Yes.”
Thomas's expression hardened.
“Then you also know Rachel wasn't supposed to have it.”
“Who killed her?”
Thomas didn't answer.
Michael grabbed his collar.
“Who killed my wife?”
Thomas pushed his hand away.
“You're asking the wrong question.”
Michael stared.
“What's the right one?”
“Who ordered it?”
Silence.
Emily looked between them.
“Who?”
Thomas glanced toward the hallway.
“We have less than five minutes.”
“For what?”
“Before they arrive.”
Michael didn't move.
“They?”
Thomas nodded.
“Victoria has been cleaning this up for three years.”
Michael's face tightened.
“You worked for her.”
“I worked to contain the damage.”
“You betrayed me.”
“No.”
Thomas looked exhausted.
“I tried to protect you.”
Michael laughed bitterly.
“By hiding my wife's murder?”
“I couldn't prove it.”
“You had the records.”
Thomas's eyes dropped.
“Not enough.”
Michael stepped closer.
“What happened that night?”
Thomas finally spoke.
“Rachel discovered that someone had been draining Hayes Holdings through six shell companies.”
“Victoria.”
“Victoria was one of them.”
“And the others?”
Thomas hesitated.
“Political contacts. Contractors. Investors.”
Michael stared.
“You’re saying she had people protecting her.”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
Thomas opened his mouth.
A gunshot exploded.
The light above them shattered.
Emily screamed.
Michael pulled her to the floor.
Another shot.
Thomas staggered backward.
Blood appeared across his shoulder.
Michael dragged him behind the cabinet.
“Thomas!”
“I'm fine.”
“You're bleeding.”
“I said I'm fine.”
He reached into his jacket and pulled out another envelope.
“This is for you.”
Michael took it.
The warehouse lights went out.
Footsteps thundered through the corridor.
Michael looked toward the door.
Thomas whispered:
“They found us.”
Emily grabbed the flash drive.
“Where do we go?”
Thomas pointed toward a rear wall.
“Tunnel.”
Michael pushed open a hidden panel.
A narrow passage disappeared into darkness.
Thomas shoved himself upright.
“Go.”
“What about you?”
Thomas looked at him.
“If I leave, they'll follow.”
Michael shook his head.
“No.”
Thomas forced the envelope into his hand.
“Read page six.”
“Why?”
“Because page six tells you who was inside your house the night Rachel died.”
Thomas pushed Michael toward the tunnel.
“Go!”
A burst of gunfire tore through the room.
Michael and Emily ran.
Behind them, Thomas shouted.
Then the tunnel door slammed shut.
Silence.
Emily looked at Michael.
“Page six.”
Michael opened the envelope while running.
He reached page six.
One name.
One address.
And one photograph.
The photograph showed Rachel standing beside a man.
Michael nearly stopped.
Because the man beside her was not a stranger.
It was him.
May you like
But the date stamped underneath the photograph was impossible.
The day after Rachel's funeral.
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