Chapter 15 - The Woman at the Door
Maria sat in an interview room with her hands folded on the table. She looked smaller without her security jacket.
“Victor has my mother's address,” she said. “He knew which nursing home she's in. He said if I didn't open the service door, someone would visit her.”
Price asked whether she'd taken the drives.
“No. I let a man through. He was dressed like maintenance. I didn't recognize him.”
“Why didn't you report it?”
“I thought I could fix it afterward.”
Benjamin watched through the observation window. He remembered Maria leaving coffee by his cleaning cart on cold mornings. There was a difference between a person who took money for cruelty and a person cornered by fear. Both could do damage, but the law should know which was which.
He requested permission to speak with her. Ruth accompanied him.
Maria began crying the moment he entered. “I'm so sorry, Ben.”
“I need you to tell them everything,” he said. “Even the parts you're ashamed of.”
“I will.”
“And you let the police worry about your mom. They're already arranging protection.”
Maria nodded.
Her statement identified the man in coveralls as a subcontractor known only as Finch. With her cooperation, detectives traced the stolen-drive route to a shipping service near the interstate. Packages addressed to an international freight broker had been prepared but not sent.
One was labeled GLASS SAMPLES. Another, OFFICE EQUIPMENT. Inside were the drives, wrapped in foil to block casual scanning.
A third package contained a photograph of Grace holding that day's newspaper. On the back, someone had written: GIVE BACK THE DEED OR SHE DISAPPEARS.
Benjamin's first impulse was to surrender every document he owned.
Ruth read the threat and said, “That's exactly the decision Victor wants.”
He stared at Grace's exhausted face. “And what decision would you make if it were your child?”
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Before Ruth could answer, Benjamin's phone rang from a blocked number.
“Daddy?” Grace whispered. “Please don't trust Ethan. He's here.”
