Chapter 6 - Locker 417
Adrian wanted to call the police immediately.
Maria agreed about the threat but insisted they first confirm what Claire had hidden.
"If Marcus has people inside your company," she said, "calling the wrong person could erase whatever's left."
They went to Union Station with Grant and two plainclothes officers Grant trusted personally.
Locker 417 was in an older corridor near the baggage storage area.
Maria's silver key fit.
Inside sat a small blue fireproof box.
Adrian opened it.
There was no money. No jewelry.
Only a notebook, a flash drive, copies of bank transfers, and a sealed letter labeled ADRIAN—ONLY IF I AM GONE.
His fingers trembled as he opened it.
Claire's message was short.
Marcus has been moving money through shell companies. Vanessa knows. I heard them discussing a trust tied to Oliver. I don't yet understand why his birth matters, but if something happens to me, protect him before you protect the company.
Adrian read the final line twice.
Do not assume my accident was an accident.
Maria covered her mouth.
Grant cursed under his breath.
Then every light in the storage corridor went out.
"Move," Grant ordered.
Footsteps pounded from both ends.
One officer pulled Adrian behind a concrete column. Another shouted for whoever was approaching to stop.
A man in a maintenance hoodie rushed toward the locker.
Maria grabbed the blue box.
The man reached for it.
Grant tackled him into a row of metal doors.
A second figure fled toward the stairs.
Adrian chased him halfway up before the man shoved a luggage cart backward. Adrian jumped aside, losing him in the morning crowd.
When he returned, Grant had pinned the first attacker.
The hood fell back.
Adrian knew him too.
Elliot Crane.
Vanessa's personal driver.
Elliot spat blood from a bitten lip and laughed.
"You're already too late."
"Where's Marcus?" Adrian demanded.
Elliot smiled.
"Not where you should be looking."
Adrian's phone buzzed.
A live image appeared from the mansion nursery.
Oliver's empty crib.
The timestamp was current.
May you like
Maria stared at it.
"Adrian... where is your son?"
