Chapter 9 - The Missing Tape
Daniel Mercer had been Bellmont Bakery’s assistant bookkeeper thirteen years earlier.
He was sixty now.
And he had spent the past decade living in Florida.
When Claire called, he knew immediately why.
“They found her?”
Claire gripped the steering wheel.
“Grace’s kids walked into the bakery.”
Daniel was silent.
“Margaret is asking questions.”
“About the money?”
“Yes.”
“Claire.”
His voice lowered.
“You told me that was finished.”
“It was.”
“Then why are you calling?”
“Midland Security still has footage.”
Daniel cursed.
Claire looked around the parking lot.
“I need to know what’s on it.”
“You were supposed to handle the cameras.”
“I did.”
“You did not.”
“Most of the footage showed exactly what we needed.”
“Most?”
Claire closed her eyes.
“There was a loading dock camera.”
Daniel went silent.
“What did it show?”
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t know?”
“I forgot it existed.”
Daniel breathed slowly.
“Listen to me.”
“If that camera caught me leaving—”
“It may not have.”
“And if it did?”
Claire had no answer.
Daniel spoke again.
“I’m not going to prison for something you planned.”
Claire’s eyes narrowed.
“You took half the money.”
“Because you said nobody would get hurt.”
“Grace got fired.”
“That was your idea.”
“You planted the envelope.”
“You gave it to me.”
Both went silent.
Thirteen years collapsed into one terrible truth.
The missing money had never been a mystery.
Claire had taken it.
Daniel had helped.
And Grace had paid the price.
Claire finally whispered.
“If the archive arrives, we destroy it.”
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“You think this is still 2013?”
“Everything is digital now.”
“Copies exist.”
Claire stared through the windshield.
Then another thought came to her.
“Not if the request is canceled before delivery.”
“How?”
Claire looked toward the bakery.
“I still have administrative access.”
Daniel did not answer.
Claire ended the call.
May you like
For the first time in thirteen years, she was not afraid of being suspected.
She was afraid of being proved guilty.
