Chapter 5 - What My Father Left Behind
We went to my father’s old auto shop.
Ortiz Auto Repair had been closed for months.
Dust covered the floor.
Mateo’s old bicycle still leaned against the back wall.
I hadn’t been inside since Dad died.
Adrian followed me toward the office.
“What did your father keep here?”
“Everything.”
“Anything unusual?”
“He trusted paper more than computers.”
I opened a filing cabinet.
Invoices.
Tax notices.
Parts catalogs.
Nothing.
Reed’s agents searched the garage.
Adrian walked toward the workbench.
He picked up a wrench.
“Your father used this?”
“Probably.”
He stared at the wall.
Then at the floor.
“What?”
He pointed.
“Why is that cabinet newer than the rest?”
I looked.
“It isn’t.”
“It’s been moved.”
We pulled it aside.
Behind it was a steel plate.
My breath caught.
I knelt.
There was a keyhole.
Adrian looked at me.
“Key?”
I touched the chain around my neck.
My father’s key.
I had worn it since the funeral.
“I thought it was for his desk.”
I inserted it.
The plate opened.
Inside was a metal box.
My hands shook.
Adrian said, “You open it.”
Inside were three flash drives.
A notebook.
And a letter.
LENA.
I stared.
Adrian stepped away.
“This is yours.”
I opened it.
Lena,
If you’re reading this, something went wrong.
Do not trust Warren Hale.
Do not trust anyone who tells you the accident was my fault.
I found records inside one of Hale’s trucks. I copied them because the names were too powerful to ignore.
If anything happens to me, protect Mateo.
I’m sorry.
Dad.
I closed my eyes.
Adrian said nothing.
I looked at him.
“He knew.”
“Yes.”
“He knew they might kill him.”
“Yes.”
“And he stayed.”
“Maybe he thought leaving would put you in more danger.”
I wiped my face angrily.
“I hate that answer.”
“I know.”
Reed took the drives.
“We can use these.”
I turned.
“Not until Mateo is safe.”
“Lena—”
“No.”
My phone rang again.
Voss.
I answered.
“What?”
“Found it?”
I looked at Adrian.
His eyes sharpened.
“Yes.”
“Good.”
“Where’s my brother?”
“Alive.”
“I want proof.”
A pause.
Then Mateo came on.
“Lena, I’m okay.”
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
Voss returned.
“Bring the drives to the old freight terminal on Canal Street.”
Adrian shook his head.
I said, “Fine.”
“Alone.”
The call ended.
Reed said, “Absolutely not.”
I looked at him.
“He has my brother.”
“We handle it.”
“You handle it slowly.”
Adrian stepped closer.
“You are not going alone.”
“He said alone.”
“And Voss is a liar.”
I stared at him.
“What would you do if it was Isabella?”
That stopped him.
I continued.
“If he had her and told you to come alone?”
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
“I’d go.”
“Exactly.”
“And I’d bring twenty men he couldn’t see.”
I looked at him.
“That’s different.”
“No.”
He took the fake drive Reed’s technician had prepared.
“You go.”
I stared.
Reed said, “Adrian.”
He ignored him.
“You walk in. You talk. You hand over the drive.”
“And then?”
“Then you trust me.”
I laughed once.
“That’s a big request.”
“Yes.”
“Why should I?”
Adrian looked directly at me.
“Because I’m bringing Mateo home.”
The freight terminal was dark.
I walked inside alone.
Voss stood beside a shipping container.
Mateo sat on a chair, wrists tied.
“Lena.”
“I’m here.”
Voss smiled.
“Drive.”
I held it up.
“Let him go.”
“First the drive.”
“No.”
He laughed.
“You’re in no position to negotiate.”
I stepped closer.
“My father tried to negotiate with your people.”
His expression changed.
“You killed him.”
“No.”
“Judge Hale ordered it.”
Voss shrugged.
“He asked for a problem to disappear.”
Mateo shouted, “Lena, don’t give him anything!”
Voss struck the chair beside him with his hand.
“Quiet.”
I froze.
“Don’t touch him.”
“Then give me the drive.”
I tossed it.
He caught it.
Then headlights exploded through the warehouse windows.
Voss turned.
Adrian stepped from the shadows.
“Malcolm.”
Voss raised a gun.
Adrian didn’t move.
“You always did love dramatic entrances.”
Adrian said, “Let the boy go.”
Voss laughed.
“You brought federal agents?”
“No.”
Then red and blue lights filled the terminal.
Adrian smiled slightly.
“They brought themselves.”
Voss looked toward the exits.
Agents moved in.
“Federal agents! Drop the weapon!”
Mateo kicked backward, knocking his chair into Voss.
The gun fell.
Adrian moved.
Fast.
He grabbed Mateo and pulled him away.
Agents tackled Voss.
I ran to my brother.
“Mateo!”
“I’m okay.”
I hugged him.
He whispered, “You’re crushing me.”
“Good.”
Adrian looked at us.
I turned toward him.
“You came.”
May you like
He raised an eyebrow.
“I said I would.”
