Chapter 10 - The Fire Nobody QuestionedThe next morning, Nina spread Riverside Mill reports across a conference table. Three years earlier, Aaron Parker's crew had responded to a warehouse fire. Two workers escaped through a side loading bay. Aaron entered looking for a trapped janitor. He never came out.

The official report blamed a sudden roof collapse and missing building records. It did not mention chained doors or the inspections Aaron had questioned.

The former fire marshal, Daniel Keene, had retired six months after the disaster and accepted a consulting job with Vale Development. Nina circled his name.

“Follow the money,” she told Marcus. “And see who signed the permit.”

Marcus found that a junior inspector, Linda Carver, had objected to the first clearance certificate. Her written concerns vanished from the final file. Linda had since moved to a nearby county.

When Nina called, Linda said, “I warned them those exit chains were illegal.”

“Will you testify?”

“If you can keep my family safe.”

Nina didn't promise what she couldn't control. “We'll take every lawful precaution. But I need the truth.”

At the hospital, Mara's oxygen treatment continued. She had begun opening her eyes, but her memory and attention remained confused. Andrea was beside her when she whispered, “Ellie?”

“She's here. She's safe.”

“Babies?”

“Both are receiving care. They've improved.”

Mara began crying silently. “I tried to call.”

“You don't have to explain now.”

Mara caught Andrea's sleeve. “He came into the house.”

“Who did?”

“Glenn. He said I stole company files. I told him to leave.” Her breathing quickened. “He went behind the house. He had a screwdriver.”

Andrea called for Dr. Bennett and alerted Nina. When Nina reached the ICU, Mara was calmer but visibly shaking.

“Did you see him block the vent?” Nina asked.

“No. I heard him working. Then I smelled something wrong, and I opened the window, but the babies were crying and I felt so tired.”

“Did you tell anyone?”

“I sent a message.”

“To whom?”

Mara's eyes fixed on the ceiling. “To Aaron's old captain. I said Glenn was back.”

May you like

Billionaire’s Wife Kicked a Waitress in Front of 300 Elites—One Slap Exp...

The billionaire’s wife tried to kick a waitress in the face in front of 300 wealthy guests. But seconds later, she whispered three...

My Mother Grabbed My Wife by the Hair Over Cold Soup—But What My Father...

My mother grabbed my wife by the hair over a bowl of cold soup. And the most shameful part? For one terrible second, I almost defe...

My Parents Kicked My 6-Year-Old Daughter and Me Out on Christmas—Then I...

My mother kicked my six-year-old daughter out of Christmas dinner, never realizing I was the only reason she still had a house to...

Nina checked the number. Captain Samuel Ortiz had died in a car crash the previous week.