Chapter 8 - The Man Who Hired Mateo
Daniel's SUV stopped before the estate gates finished opening.
Mateo was out before the engine died.
The front door stood unlocked.
"Harold!"
No answer.
They found him in the estate office sitting behind his desk with a glass of whiskey he had not touched.
His hands were shaking.
"Lock the door," he said.
Ortiz stepped inside behind them. "Nobody locks anything."
Harold looked at her, then at Mateo.
"I didn't know what he planned."
Mateo moved closer.
"Who?"
Harold laughed once under his breath.
"You already know."
Daniel planted both hands on the desk.
"Thomas told you to hire him?"
Harold nodded.
"Six months ago. He sent me a file with Mateo's employment history, his mother's address, his debts, everything."
Mateo's stomach tightened.
"Why?"
"He said unfinished business should stay where you can see it."
Daniel's face drained.
"Those exact words?"
"Yes."
Mateo leaned over the desk.
"What happened to my father?"
Harold shut his eyes.
"I saw Luis at Warehouse Three. He was arguing with Thomas. There was another man, but I couldn't see his face."
"Why didn't you tell police?"
"Thomas told me Luis had attacked him first. Then the next morning Luis was dead."
Mateo slammed his palm onto the desk.
"And you kept working for them?"
Harold jerked back.
"I had two children. Thomas knew where they went to school."
Daniel stared at him.
"You've had twenty-one years to tell me."
Harold looked at him with something close to disgust.
"You didn't want to know anything back then, Mr. Mercer."
Daniel's mouth opened.
Nothing came out.
Harold reached for his computer.
"Thomas contacted me again three months ago. Asked about Mateo's fingerprints. Criminal history. Bank accounts."
Mateo's shoulders tightened.
"Why fingerprints?"
"I don't know."
Harold opened a drawer.
"But I saved his messages."
A flash drive lay inside.
"Give it to me," Ortiz said.
Harold reached.
The office window made a small popping sound.
Harold's body snapped backward.
Blood sprayed the wall.
Mateo dropped automatically.
"DOWN!"
A second suppressed shot punched through the wooden desk.
The bullet tore through the spot where Mateo's head had been half a second earlier.
Daniel hit the floor beside him.
Ortiz drew her weapon and crawled toward the wall.
"Shooter outside! East lawn!"
Mateo looked at Harold.
His eyes were open.
His mouth moved.
No sound came out.
Mateo crawled toward him.
Harold's bloody hand closed around his wrist.
"Drive," Harold whispered.
"What?"
"Backup... drive..."
His grip slipped.
May you like
Then the office lights exploded above them.
