Chapter 6: The Warehouse
The warehouse sat on the edge of an industrial district where the streets seemed to empty after dark.
I had passed it hundreds of times without noticing.
Now I couldn't stop staring at the rusted sign above the entrance.
*HARRISON STORAGE — UNIT 18*
Ariana's mother sat beside me in the passenger seat.
“I haven't been here in years.””
“Why did you clean it?””
She stared through the windshield.
“A company hired me.””
“Which company?””
She shook her head.
“I never knew.””
I tightened my grip on the steering wheel.
“Did you ever see my husband there?””
“Yes.””
I looked at her.
“You did?””
“Twice.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
She turned toward me.
“Because your husband told me not to.””
My chest tightened.
“What did he say?””
“He said people were watching.””
I stared at the warehouse.
“People like Martin?””
“I don't know.””
“And what was inside?””
“Boxes.””
“What's in them?””
“I never opened them.””
“Did anyone else come?””
She nodded.
“Your boss.””
David.
The name sat between us.
I reached for my phone.
No answer when I called.
Again.
Nothing.
Then a message appeared.
*DO NOT GO INSIDE.*
I showed Ariana's mother.
She looked frightened.
“Who sent it?””
“Unknown.””
Another message appeared.
*HE'S WATCHING YOU.*
I looked around.
The parking lot was empty.
At least, it appeared empty.
“Maybe we should leave,” she whispered.
Then I saw something.
A security camera above the entrance.
It was pointed directly at my car.
“Someone knows we're here.””
I started the engine.
Before I could move, a side door opened.
A man stepped out.
Gray hair.
Black jacket.
Martin.
He lifted one hand.
“Laura.””
I locked the doors.
He approached the car.
“I told you not to come here.””
I rolled down the window barely an inch.
“Why are you following me?””
“I’m trying to protect you.””
“You threatened my son.””
“I never threatened Miles.””
“You paid Ethan.””
Martin's face hardened.
“Ethan is a child who made a terrible choice.””
“You told him to target Ariana.””
“I told him to make sure nobody looked at the warehouse.””
I stared at him.
“Why?””
“Because someone is trying to find what your husband left behind.””
“What did he leave?””
Martin looked toward Ariana's mother.
“She knows.””
Ariana's mother shook her head.
“No, I don't.””
“You cleaned the office.””
“Which office?””
“The one beneath the warehouse.””
I felt my pulse quicken.
“There’s an office under this building?””
Martin nodded.
“Your husband hid something there.””
“What?””
“Proof.””
“Proof of what?””
He stepped closer.
“Fraud. Bribery. Stolen money.””
I felt sick.
“Are you saying my husband was a criminal?””
“No.””
“Then what?””
“He discovered your company was laundering money through properties it didn't own.””
I stared at him.
“And David?””
Martin looked away.
“David knew.””
A loud metallic bang came from inside the warehouse.
Everyone froze.
Martin turned.
“Someone else is here.””
“Who?””
He didn't answer.
Another bang.
Then footsteps.
Fast.
Coming toward the door.
Martin grabbed my car handle.
“Get out.””
“No.””
“Laura, get out now.””
The warehouse door burst open.
A man ran across the loading dock carrying a black case.
Martin chased him.
“Stop!””
The man dropped the case.
It hit the concrete and popped open.
Papers scattered across the ground.
One page slid beneath my car.
I got out despite Martin shouting at me not to.
I picked it up.
My eyes scanned the document.
It was a property transfer.
The signature at the bottom was unmistakable.
*Laura Harris.*
My name.
But I had never signed it.
Ariana's mother picked up another page.
Her face went white.
“Mrs. Harris…”
“What?””
She turned the document toward me.
At the top was the name of the building where she worked.
And underneath it was a handwritten note.
*TRANSFER COMPLETED — SEPTEMBER 14.*
The same date as the missing security footage.
Then a voice came from inside the warehouse.
A voice I hadn't heard in six years.
“Laura?””
I dropped the paper.
Martin went completely still.
Ariana's mother covered her mouth.
The voice came again.
May you like
“Laura, you shouldn't have come here.””
It was my husband's voice.
