Chapter 5 - A Name on the Invoice

Priya Shah listened to Victor's voicemail twice in her small office above a bakery. She was Adam's appeals attorney, a woman who wasted no time pretending the law moved faster than it did.

"This could matter," she said. "But we'll need to authenticate it and determine why it wasn't disclosed. A phone message doesn't erase a conviction on its own."

Talia sat across from Owen, hands knotted in her coat. "The contractor was working for Cross? Martin Cross?"

"His companies were buying properties on Rowan Street," Owen answered. "Natalie told me the redevelopment started after the fire."

Priya opened a folder. "Adam's case file says he was seen near the building at eleven thirty. He had keys because he tuned the auditorium piano. He admitted arguing with the director about unpaid work. The jury heard a lot about that argument."

"They never heard why he was there," Owen said. "Adam went back to get an instrument he was restoring for Ivy."

"The prosecution said that story changed."

"After eleven hours of questioning and no sleep."

Priya held up a hand. "What I need is proof, not conviction in my client's innocence. We're going after the source material behind that audio."

Margaret arrived with a paper grocery bag. She set twelve photocopied invoices on the desk. Each paid a company called Red Line Safety for emergency door hardware, dated three weeks before the blaze. Each bore the charitable foundation's approval stamp.

"I paid these," she said. "Martin told me they were sprinkler upgrades. The bills were charged against a children's music grant."

Talia read the first line. "Why didn't you come forward at the trial?"

"Because I was a coward," Margaret said. "And because Martin said he'd show my daughter a document making me look like the thief."

Owen didn't soften his expression. "People paid for your silence. Victor paid with his life."

"I know. I'm finished being silent."

Priya examined the invoices. The vendor's listed address was a vacant lot. But one of the signatures had been placed above an internal routing code: N.C.-17.

Margaret tapped the initials. "Natalie approved the job. She approved every change order on the night of the fire."

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Priya's office phone lit up. Caller ID: STATE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY.

"I should take this," Priya said. She answered, listened, and went pale. "Adam has been moved to protective custody. Someone inside told him his daughter had been taken."