Chapter 3 - The Files Ethan Wanted
Detective Laura Grant arrived twenty-three minutes later.
By then Ethan had changed tactics three times.
First angry.
Then charming.
Then offended.
He finally settled on misunderstood.
“I was concerned for her safety,” he told Grant.
The detective looked at the broken door.
“You expressed concern with your shoulder?”
“It wasn’t locked properly.”
Sophia stared at him.
“You hit it four times.”
“Three.”
Everyone went silent.
Ethan realized his mistake.
Detective Grant wrote something down.
“Thank you for clarifying.”
Adrian almost smiled.
Grant turned toward Sophia.
“Start from the beginning.”
Sophia explained.
Seven months apart.
Changed number.
Changed apartment.
Blocked contacts.
Ethan appearing outside Meridian.
Then tonight.
“Did he threaten you?”
“He demanded Meridian files.”
Grant looked toward Ethan.
Ethan shook his head.
“She misunderstood.”
Adrian spoke.
“He also searched her laptop.”
Grant glanced at him.
“And you are?”
“Adrian Moretti.”
Her pen stopped.
Recognition crossed her face.
“I see.”
Ethan looked between them.
For the first time, Sophia realized he truly hadn’t recognized Adrian.
That changed quickly.
“You’re Moretti?”
Adrian looked at him.
“Apparently.”
Ethan went pale.
Grant asked Sophia to check the laptop.
Sophia sat at her worktable.
Her hands were steadier now.
She opened the system activity log.
Her expression changed.
“What?”
Grant stepped closer.
Sophia pointed.
“Someone accessed the Meridian archive tonight.”
“From this computer?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
Sophia checked.
“Eleven forty-three.”
Everyone looked at Ethan.
He shook his head.
“That proves nothing.”
Sophia continued scrolling.
Then stopped.
“No.”
“What?” Adrian asked.
She enlarged the screen.
“A transfer.”
“Of what?”
“Stone certification records.”
Grant leaned over her shoulder.
Sophia’s pulse quickened.
“These records contain serial numbers, origin documentation, grading reports and shipment references.”
Adrian’s expression became serious.
“Enough information to duplicate paperwork?”
Sophia looked at him.
“Yes.”
The room went silent.
Ethan headed for the door.
Grant stopped him.
“Mr. Cole.”
“I’m leaving.”
“No, you’re not.”
“This woman invited me here.”
Sophia stood.
“No, I didn’t.”
“You texted me.”
“I haven’t spoken to you in seven months.”
Ethan smiled.
“You might want to check.”
Sophia did.
A message existed.
Sent from her number at 9:18 p.m.
We need to talk. Come over tonight.
Her face drained.
“I didn’t send this.”
Ethan spread his hands.
“There you go.”
Adrian walked toward her.
“Check your account.”
Sophia opened her settings.
Then email.
Then cloud login history.
A device she didn’t recognize had accessed her account two days earlier.
Adrian asked, “Who could answer your old security questions?”
Sophia looked at Ethan.
He smiled.
Not pleasantly.
Grant saw it.
“So,” she said, “someone accesses Ms. Bennett’s account, sends an invitation to you, and shortly after you arrive, confidential Meridian documents are downloaded.”
Ethan shrugged.
“Coincidence.”
Adrian’s phone rang.
He answered.
“Speak.”
His expression changed as he listened.
“Send it.”
He hung up.
Sophia asked, “What?”
“Meridian security found something.”
His phone vibrated.
He opened an image.
Then showed Sophia.
A surveillance still.
Ethan.
Outside Meridian’s employee entrance.
Three nights earlier.
Speaking to a man Sophia recognized.
Her mouth opened.
“That’s Marcus Vale.”
“Who?”
“Meridian’s procurement director.”
Adrian looked toward Ethan.
Ethan said nothing.
Adrian’s voice became colder.
May you like
“I think your broken door is the smallest problem you have tonight.”
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