Chapter 13 - The Trap at Locker 42
Grant drew his weapon.
“Stay down.”
Daniel pulled Emily behind a concrete column.
Susan and Margaret crouched near the station office.
A second crash echoed from outside.
Then the emergency alarm began ringing.
Smoke drifted beneath the front doors.
“They started a fire?”
Daniel looked toward Grant.
Grant checked the window.
“A trash container outside.”
The smoke was deliberate.
A distraction.
Emily looked toward the open locker.
The metal box containing her father’s evidence sat on the table.
“They want the records.”
Grant nodded.
Footsteps sounded in the rear corridor.
Someone had entered through the service door.
Daniel moved toward the evidence box.
Grant stopped him.
“Don’t.”
A shadow appeared.
Then Marcus Reed stepped into view.
His face was covered with a dark mask.
He held a metal bar.
“Move away from the box.”
Grant raised his weapon.
“Drop it.”
Marcus froze.
For one second, nobody moved.
Then another figure appeared behind Susan.
A woman.
Older.
Elegant.
Silver hair.
Emily recognized her from the old VHS tape.
Evelyn Vale.
She held Susan tightly.
A knife rested near Susan’s shoulder.
“Put the gun down.”
Emily’s heart slammed against her ribs.
“Mom.”
Susan looked terrified.
Evelyn stared at Emily.
“You look like Robert.”
Emily’s fear turned to anger.
“You knew my father.”
“Unfortunately.”
Daniel stepped forward.
“Let her go.”
Evelyn smiled.
“This has nothing to do with you anymore, Daniel.”
“You stole millions from my company.”
“That was your money.”
Evelyn looked at Emily.
“This is family business.”
Emily felt the words like ice.
“What happened to my father?”
Evelyn’s expression did not change.
“He should have minded his own business.”
Susan began crying.
Emily stepped forward.
Grant whispered.
“Emily, don’t.”
Emily ignored him.
“Did you kill him?”
Evelyn’s eyes flickered.
That tiny reaction was enough.
Emily saw it.
So did Grant.
“Answer me.”
Evelyn tightened her grip on Susan.
“Your father made choices.”
“What choices?”
“He photographed things he should not have photographed.”
Emily’s voice shook.
“He told the truth.”
“He threatened my family.”
“No.”
Emily stared at her.
“He threatened your money.”
Evelyn’s face hardened.
Marcus shifted toward the evidence box.
Daniel noticed.
He kicked the table.
The box slid across the floor.
Marcus lunged.
Grant tackled him.
The metal bar crashed away.
Susan twisted free.
Evelyn grabbed for her.
Emily rushed forward.
Daniel pulled Susan away as Evelyn stumbled.
Police officers burst through the rear entrance.
“Drop the knife!”
Evelyn stopped.
The blade fell from her hand.
Marcus was pinned to the floor.
Within seconds, both were handcuffed.
Emily stood trembling.
She looked at Evelyn.
“What happened to my father?”
Evelyn said nothing.
Grant picked up the evidence box.
Then he noticed a tiny red light on the table.
One of the officers had activated a body camera before entering.
Grant smiled without humor.
“Be careful what you say next.”
Evelyn’s expression changed.
Emily understood.
Her words had already been recorded.
Your father made choices.
He photographed things he should not have photographed.
Daniel looked at Evelyn.
“You just connected yourself to Robert’s death investigation.”
Evelyn smiled faintly.
“You still don’t have Vanessa.”
Grant’s phone rang at that exact moment.
He answered.
His face tightened.
Daniel asked.
“What?”
May you like
Grant lowered the phone.
“Vanessa just crossed the Canadian border.”
