Chapter 8 - Claudia Chooses a Side
Claudia was waiting outside Warehouse 914.
I almost turned around.
Then I saw her face.
Mascara streaked.
No coat.
Barely breathing.
“My father knows about this place.”
Bell swore.
“How?”
“He had me follow you.”
I stared.
“You agreed?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I thought you were stealing my family.”
The honesty was ugly.
Useful.
“What changed?”
She held out a flash drive.
“My father’s security archive.”
Bell took it.
“What’s on it?”
“Everything he told me to delete.”
I looked at her.
“You kept copies?”
“I’m spoiled, not stupid.”
For the first time, I almost liked her.
Inside the warehouse, the air smelled like cardboard and cold metal.
Key 914 opened a private cage.
Cabinet at the back.
My brass key fit.
Inside:
Hard drives.
Ledgers.
Medical records.
Recorders.
A file labeled VICTORIA.
Another CLAUDIA.
Another ADRIAN.
Rafael had prepared for war.
Bell opened Adrian’s folder.
Transfers.
$38 million over two decades.
From Isabel Trust.
Into Adrian-controlled entities.
Claudia sat down hard.
“No.”
I looked at her.
“Your father stole it.”
She shook her head.
“No.”
Bell showed her signatures.
She covered her mouth.
Then she handed me the flash drive.
“There’s more.”
Security video.
Night Rafael collapsed.
Adrian entered the private suite at 2:11 a.m.
Stayed nine minutes.
Left.
Time stamp.
Claudia whispered, “He told police he was in New York.”
Bell copied the file.
Then Claudia clicked another camera.
Victoria entered Rafael’s room at 2:18.
Seven minutes after Adrian left.
I stared at Victoria’s image.
She closed the door behind her.
Stayed twelve minutes.
Then came out holding something.
A black recorder.
Claudia looked at me.
“Grandma lied too.”
The warehouse door slammed.
We turned.
Adrian stood at the entrance.
Two men behind him.
He looked at his daughter first.
“Claudia.”
She stood.
“Dad.”
“Come here.”
“No.”
His face changed.
Just enough.
“Come here.”
She stepped behind me.
I almost laughed at the absurdity.
Yesterday she had told me I poured coffee for them.
Today she was hiding behind the waitress.
Adrian looked at me.
“You have no idea what Rafael did.”
“Then tell me.”
“He used you.”
“So did you.”
“I protected this company.”
“By stealing Isabel’s shares?”
His jaw tightened.
Bell lifted his phone.
“Conversation is being transmitted.”
Adrian smiled.
“You always were theatrical.”
Then he looked at Claudia.
“You think she will leave you anything?”
Claudia’s hands shook.
I said, “This is not about leaving.”
Adrian’s eyes moved to my pendant.
“Give me the necklace.”
“No.”
“You don’t understand what it opens.”
“Box 317 already opened.”
For the first time, his control cracked.
“What?”
I smiled.
“Too late.”
He stepped forward.
Security raised weapons.
Adrian stopped.
Then he laughed.
“You think 317 was the only box?”
My stomach tightened.
“What other box?”
He looked at Victoria’s folder.
Then at me.
“Ask my mother what she took from Rafael the night he died.”
May you like
CUT.
