Chapter 6 - Lights on the Third Floor
Detective Chen arrived without sirens. Two officers went around the rear while she studied the lit window through binoculars.
"Stay in the car," she told us.
"That's my mother."
"And I intend to bring her out alive. Don't make me worry about you too."
For the longest twelve minutes of my life, nothing moved. Then the warehouse doors opened. Three officers entered. Gideon watched the dark windows without blinking. I held my mother's old house key so tightly that its teeth marked my palm.
Chen emerged alone. "The building's empty. There's a wheelchair upstairs and evidence someone was here recently. We need to check another exit."
"I saw her," I insisted.
"I believe you."
The words were small, but they kept me standing. She gave me a sealed plastic bag. Inside was my mother's red cardigan, one button missing.
A folded piece of paper had been tucked into the sleeve. In shaky letters it read: COUNT THE BELLS. NOT THE FLOORS.
Gideon stared at it. "The old Bellwether had a bell system. The employees rang for help from the basement."
"Does the new building?" Chen asked.
"We kept the original fixtures in storage. My father called them history."
My phone buzzed with a number I didn't know. I answered before anyone could stop me.
A man said, "You've made an expensive evening much more difficult."
"Let me talk to her."
"You will. After the engagement papers are signed and the cameras are gone."
"Who are you?"
"Someone who remembers how quietly your mother used to work."
The call ended. Chen immediately requested a trace, but the number had already disconnected.
Gideon turned to me. "They need the land transfer completed tomorrow. That's why they acted tonight."
"Then don't sign."
"I won't."
May you like
For the first time I saw something worse than shock in his face: shame.
"Mara," he said, "I signed the preliminary agreement last month. And the final documents are already with the bank."
