Chapter 3 - The Man in the Charcoal Suit
Thursday evening, the Bellamy dining room was full.
Tessa worked silently.
Boyd passed her station.
“You learned something yesterday?”
Tessa nodded.
“Say it.”
“I learned.”
“What?”
Her hands stopped.
“That saying no has consequences.”
Boyd smiled.
“Exactly.”
A dishwasher looked away.
Then the kitchen door opened.
Garrett entered first.
He looked nervous.
Behind him came a tall man in a custom charcoal suit.
Conrad Voss.
His dark hair was swept back. His gray eyes moved across the kitchen with controlled precision. Black tattoo ink showed at his neck above the open collar of his shirt and along one hand.
Two men remained near the doorway.
Garrett forced a laugh.
“Mr. Voss wanted to inspect our seafood operation.”
Boyd frowned.
“Tonight?”
Conrad looked at him.
“Is there a problem?”
“No.”
“Good.”
Conrad walked through the kitchen.
Tessa kept her eyes down.
He stopped beside her.
“Your name?”
She hesitated.
“Tessa.”
“Tessa what?”
“Winslow.”
Boyd interrupted.
“She’s kitchen staff.”
Conrad never looked away from Tessa.
“I asked her.”
“Tessa Winslow.”
Conrad glanced at her hands.
“You've worked here long?”
“Three years.”
“By choice?”
The knife stopped in Tessa’s hand.
Garrett laughed.
“Of course by choice.”
Conrad finally turned.
“I wasn't asking you either.”
Garrett’s smile disappeared.
Conrad looked back at Tessa.
“By choice?”
Tessa could feel Boyd watching.
“Yes.”
Conrad studied her for several seconds.
Then nodded.
“Show me the freezer.”
Boyd stepped forward.
“I can—”
“Tessa can.”
Nobody moved.
Conrad’s voice remained calm.
“Unless there’s a reason she shouldn't.”
Tessa slowly walked toward the freezer.
Conrad followed.
Inside, frost coated the shelves.
Tessa immediately began breathing faster.
Conrad noticed.
“You don't like enclosed spaces?”
“I’m fine.”
“That's not what I asked.”
She looked toward the door.
Conrad reached back and deliberately wedged it open.
“Better?”
Tessa nodded.
He crouched beside a shipment label.
“Voss Maritime.”
“Yes.”
“Everything in here came through one of my companies.”
“I suppose.”
He stood.
“Which means Garrett needs me.”
Tessa finally looked at him.
Conrad lowered his voice.
“Maggie called.”
Tessa’s face drained.
“No.”
“She told me about Wednesday.”
“No, no—”
“Tessa.”
“You need to leave.”
“Why?”
“Because they'll know.”
“They already know I'm here.”
“You don't understand.”
Conrad took one step closer but left enough distance not to corner her.
“Then explain it.”
“They have everything.”
“Such as?”
“My passport.”
“What else?”
“Immigration documents. Employment records. Debt papers.”
“How much?”
“Eighty-seven thousand.”
“For what?”
“I don't know anymore.”
Conrad’s jaw tightened.
“Do you have copies?”
“No.”
“Witnesses?”
Tessa almost laughed.
“Look outside.”
Conrad looked through the open freezer doorway.
Every kitchen employee had found a reason not to watch.
“Those are witnesses,” he said.
“They won't talk.”
“We’ll see.”
Suddenly Boyd appeared.
“What are you discussing?”
Conrad turned.
“Scallops.”
Boyd stared at Tessa.
“Get back to work.”
Conrad blocked his path without touching him.
“She’ll go when we're finished.”
Boyd’s expression hardened.
“You don't give orders to my employees.”
Conrad glanced at Garrett, who had hurried into the kitchen.
“Garrett?”
Garrett swallowed.
“Boyd. Enough.”
Boyd stared at his father.
“What?”
“Enough.”
For the first time in three years, Tessa saw something extraordinary.
Boyd stepped backward.
Conrad looked at her.
“You’re coming with me.”
Tessa shook her head.
“I can’t.”
“Why?”
“My debt.”
“We'll examine it.”
“My documents.”
“We'll recover them.”
“They'll come after me.”
Conrad’s expression remained cold.
“Then they’ll have to go through me.”
Tessa stared at his offered hand.
She did not take it.
Not yet.
“I don't know you.”
Conrad lowered his hand.
“That might be the smartest thing you've said tonight.”
Tessa blinked.
He continued.
“So don't trust me.”
“What?”
“Trust evidence.”
He pointed toward the open freezer door.
“I'm not locking it.”
Then toward the kitchen exit.
“I'm not blocking that either.”
His gaze held hers.
May you like
“You choose which door you walk through.”
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