Chapter 13 - Unit 214
The storage facility sat beside the highway behind a row of tire shops.
Unit 214 was rented under the name Michael West.
No Michael West existed at the address on file.
The phone number belonged to a prepaid device that had been inactive for two months.
Security video, however, showed Grant entering the unit six times.
Once with Linda.
Once with a man Detective Pierce recognized as Derek Vale.
With a warrant in hand, investigators opened the metal door.
Inside were three plastic bins, two filing cabinets, a locked suitcase, and one folding table.
No furniture.
No household storage.
Just records.
Copies of checks.
Blank invoice forms.
Business stamps.
Old laptops.
Photocopies of Emily’s driver’s license.
Her Social Security number.
Her signature copied dozens of times on tracing paper.
Pierce called Emily from the scene.
“You were right to be worried about your identity.”
Emily gripped the phone.
“How bad?”
“We found material consistent with a long-running fraud operation.”
“My husband?”
“And potentially others.”
“Linda?”
“We’re documenting.”
Sarah stood beside Emily, listening.
“Is there anything about the insurance policy?” Emily asked.
Pierce walked toward the locked suitcase.
“Not yet.”
An evidence technician cut the small lock.
Inside were several envelopes and a black notebook.
Pierce opened the notebook.
Dates.
Dollar amounts.
Initials.
E.H. appeared on page after page.
Then one line stopped him.
10/3 - MOVE E FUNDS - L.H.
October third.
Three days before the shed.
“Detective?” Emily said through the phone.
Pierce turned the page.
Another entry.
10/6 - PRESSURE - G.H.
The day of the shed.
Then a final note beneath it.
IF SHE CALLS SARAH, USE SCHOOL PHOTO.
Pierce’s expression went cold.
The threat against Ellie had been planned before Emily was even trapped in the shed.
This was not panic.
It was a system.
“Emily,” he said, “I need you to hear me clearly. The photo of Ellie was not random.”
Emily stood up.
“What do you mean?”
“We found a note about using a school photo if you contacted Sarah.”
Sarah’s face drained of color.
Emily whispered, “Who wrote it?”
Pierce looked at the initials beside the entry.
They were not Grant’s.
They were not Linda’s.
May you like
D.V.
Derek Vale.
