Chapter 12: My Desk
The office building was almost completely dark.
Only a few floors still had lights on.
I parked in the underground garage.
Ariana's mother grabbed my arm.
“You're not going alone.””
“The message says alone.””
“I don't care.””
“You have a daughter.””
“So do you.””
We looked at each other.
Neither of us moved.
Then she pulled a small metal object from her purse.
“What is that?””
“A key.””
“To what?””
“The old storage room.””
I stared at it.
“I thought you said you never knew what was inside.””
“I didn't.””
“Then why do you have the key?””
“Because six years ago, Daniel gave it to me.””
My heart stopped.
“You knew he was alive.””
“No.””
“Then why would he give you this?””
“He told me that if anything happened to him, I should give it to his wife.””
I stared at the key.
“You never gave it to me.””
“I was terrified.””
I couldn't blame her.
Not anymore.
We entered the building through the rear entrance.
The lobby was empty.
My footsteps echoed across the marble floor.
The elevators were disabled.
We took the stairs.
When we reached my floor, the hallway was dark.
I unlocked my office.
Nothing appeared disturbed.
My desk looked exactly as I'd left it.
Laptop.
Coffee mug.
Family photograph.
I pulled open the drawers.
Nothing.
Ariana's mother searched the shelves.
“Maybe David was wrong.””
I looked at the photograph of Daniel and me.
Then I remembered something.
Six years ago, Daniel had given me a wooden desk organizer.
He told me it was a wedding gift.
I had never understood why.
I lifted it.
It was heavier than it should have been.
I turned it over.
A tiny screw sat beneath the felt lining.
I removed it.
The bottom opened.
Inside was a small digital recorder.
My hands began shaking.
“This is it.””
Ariana's mother whispered, “Play it.””
I pressed the button.
Static.
Then Daniel's voice.
“If anything happens to me, Richard Harris is responsible.””
I stopped breathing.
Another voice answered.
Older.
Cold.
Richard.
“You should have stayed quiet.””
Daniel replied,
“You stole from the company.””
“I protected it.””
“You forged Laura's signature.””
“She'll never know.””
“You used my name.””
“Because your name has value.””
A pause.
Then Daniel said,
“You're going to kill me.””
Richard laughed.
“No.””
My hands shook harder.
“You'll disappear.””
A loud crash interrupted the recording.
Then Daniel shouted,
“Laura!””
The recording ended.
Ariana's mother covered her mouth.
“He knew.””
I nodded.
“He knew they were coming.””
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
Richard's voice came through.
“You found it.””
I couldn't speak.
“You always were more clever than I gave you credit for.””
“Where is my son?””
“With Daniel.””
“Let them go.””
“You still don't understand.””
“Then explain.””
“You think Daniel is innocent.””
“Isn't he?””
“No.””
My stomach tightened.
“What did he do?””
“He stole something from me.””
“The evidence?””
“No.””
“What, then?””
Richard laughed quietly.
“The money.””
I frowned.
“Daniel didn't steal money.””
“Not for himself.””
The line went silent.
Then Richard said,
“He gave it to Ariana's mother.””
I looked at her.
She went pale.
“That isn't possible.””
“Ask her.””
I turned.
“Ariana's mother…”
She was crying.
“I didn't know what it was.””
Richard continued through the phone.
“She found the money hidden inside that cleaning cart.””
My mind raced.
The metal box.
The warehouse.
The pendant.
Ariana.
Everything connected.
“You've been looking for her this whole time.””
“No.””
“Then why target Ariana?””
“Because she was the only person who could lead us to the evidence.””
“What evidence?””
Richard's voice softened.
“The evidence isn't in your office.””
I stared at the recorder.
“Then where is it?””
“Your husband hid it somewhere only you would think to look.””
I felt a chill.
“What does that mean?””
Richard laughed.
“You've been looking at the wrong memory.””
The office lights suddenly switched on.
I turned.
Daniel stood in the doorway.
Bruised.
Bleeding.
But alive.
He looked at me.
“Laura, don't listen to him.””
Richard's voice came through the phone one last time.
“Ask your husband what happened on your wedding night.””
The call ended.
Daniel took one step toward me.
I held up the recorder.
“What happened that night?””
Daniel's face changed.
He looked terrified.
And then he said,
“Laura…”
May you like
His voice broke.
“You weren't supposed to remember.””
