Chapter 5: What She Buried Three Years Ago
The first office of Meridian Logistics was still standing.
It was a narrow commercial unit above a printing shop on West Madison Street. The building had an old brick exterior, broken pavement outside, and windows that rattled whenever a truck passed.
I hadn't visited in nearly two years.
There was no reason to.
The company had outgrown it long before that.
But now, as Daniel drove us through the city, I couldn't stop thinking about Tiana's confession.
She had buried the original contract.
Not lost it.
Not misplaced it.
Buried it.
"What exactly did you put there?"" I asked.
Tiana sat across from me in the SUV.
She had barely spoken since leaving my office.
"I don't know if it's still there.""
"That's not an answer.""
She looked out the window.
"Devon gave me a document to hide.""
"What document?""
"The original ownership agreement.""
I frowned.
"Between whom?""
"You, Devon, and the first investors.""
I shook my head.
"That agreement was filed with the attorneys.""
"Not the original version.""
I stared at her.
She took a breath.
"Devon said there was a mistake in the paperwork. He told me the original contract contained a clause that could cause problems for the company.""
"What kind of clause?""
"He wouldn't tell me.""
"And you hid it?""
"He said it was temporary.""
I looked at Daniel.
"Pull over.""
The SUV stopped beside the curb.
I leaned forward.
"Tiana, listen carefully. If you know something that could affect this company, you tell me now. No more partial explanations.""
She nodded.
"Three years ago, Devon came to our apartment while you were working. He had a document folder and a small metal box.""
I remembered that evening.
I had been at the office until midnight.
When I returned, Tiana was sitting on the couch with the television turned off.
She had told me she was tired.
I hadn't questioned her.
"He asked me to put the box somewhere safe," she continued.
"He said you would understand eventually.""
"Why didn't he keep it?""
"Because he was afraid you'd find it in his apartment.""
I looked at her.
"And where did you put it?""
"In the wall behind the old office's filing cabinet.""
Daniel glanced at me through the rearview mirror.
"Sir, should we call the authorities before entering?""
"Yes. And bring a locksmith.""
The old office smelled exactly as I remembered.
Dust.
Old paper.
And the faint chemical odor from the printing shop downstairs.
The furniture had been removed, but a few scratches remained on the floor where our original desks had stood.
I walked slowly toward the back wall.
There was a faded mark where the filing cabinet used to sit.
Tiana stopped near the doorway.
"I put it behind there.""
I turned.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
She looked down.
"Because Devon threatened me.""
"With what?""
"He said if I told you, he would release documents proving I had helped him steal company information.""
I stared at her.
"You did help him steal company information.""
Her face crumpled.
"I know.""
I turned away.
For a moment, all I could hear was the humming of an old ceiling light.
Then Daniel called from the hallway.
"Mr. Reed?""
"What?""
"Someone has been here recently.""
He pointed toward the back wall.
There were fresh scratches around the electrical panel.
I crouched.
The metal cover was slightly crooked.
Tiana stepped closer.
"That's where it is.""
I removed the cover.
Behind the panel was a small rectangular opening.
But it was empty.
I stared into the darkness.
"Someone got here first.""
Tiana covered her mouth.
"No.""
Daniel immediately called the security team.
I stood and examined the floor.
There were footprints in the dust.
One set appeared to be recent.
And beside the wall was a small torn piece of black fabric.
I picked it up.
A logo was printed on the edge.
*HAYES STRATEGIC ADVISORY.*
Tiana took a step backward.
"Devon.""
I looked at her.
"Are you sure?""
She nodded.
"He gave me jackets with that logo when he started his consulting company.""
I placed the fabric in an evidence bag Daniel handed me.
"Call the police.""
Daniel stepped into the corridor.
Tiana remained beside the empty wall.
"Marcus, there's something else.""
I closed my eyes briefly.
"Go ahead.""
"The box wasn't the only thing I hid.""
I turned.
She reached into her handbag and removed a small folded piece of paper.
It was yellowed around the edges.
"I found this inside the metal box before I buried it. I kept it because I thought it might protect me.""
I unfolded it.
The handwriting was Devon's.
At the top was a date.
Three years earlier.
Below it was a list of names.
The first two were mine and Devon's.
The third was Tiana's.
But the fourth name made my blood run cold.
*ROBERT REED.*
My father.
I stared at the paper.
"My father died before this company was founded.""
Tiana nodded.
"I know.""
"Then why is his name here?""
She looked toward the empty wall.
"Because Devon told me your father had invested in the original business.""
I shook my head.
"That's impossible.""
"Marcus, he showed me bank records.""
I stepped closer.
"My father died when I was twenty-four. He never met Devon.""
Tiana's voice dropped.
"That's what I thought too.""
I looked at the date again.
It was six months before my father's death.
Beneath his name was a handwritten amount.
*$1,500,000.*
I felt the room tilt slightly.
My father had never told me about any investment.
He had been a school principal for thirty years. He lived modestly, drove an old Buick, and spent most of his retirement savings helping my mother.
There was no way he had secretly invested one and a half million dollars.
Unless the money hadn't been his.
I looked at Tiana.
"Did Devon explain this?""
She shook her head.
"He only said your father had a connection to the company that you didn't know about.""
Daniel returned.
"The police are on their way.""
I folded the paper.
"Let's go.""
But before I could move, my phone rang.
The caller ID displayed a name I hadn't seen in years.
*EVELYN REED.*
My mother.
I answered immediately.
"Mom?""
Her voice was trembling.
"Marcus, I just received a letter.""
"What letter?""
"Someone delivered it to the house. It has your father's name on it.""
I stopped walking.
"What does it say?""
She began crying.
"It says that if I don't hand over the original inheritance documents, someone is going to tell you what your father did before he died.""
I closed my eyes.
"Mom, don't give anyone anything.""
"Marcus...""
"What?""
Her voice became barely audible.
"Your father wasn't the man you thought he was.""
The call ended.
I stood motionless in the abandoned office.
Tiana looked at me.
"What happened?""
I stared at the yellow paper in my hand.
"Apparently, my father had secrets.""
Then Daniel's phone rang.
He answered, listened, and slowly turned toward me.
"Sir, we've identified the person who entered this building last night.""
"Who?""
May you like
Daniel swallowed.
"Your mother.""
