Chapter 6 - The Dead Man Online
Caleb Voss had been officially missing since 2011.
Now his account was alive in Bellhaven.
Dana sent a surveillance team.
Lily spoke from behind me.
“Go.”
I turned.
“No.”
“Dad, Richard used me to get to you. If Voss is alive, maybe he can end this.”
“I’m not leaving you.”
“You already left a case once because of me.”
That hit exactly where she meant it to.
She softened.
“I’m not three anymore.”
I looked at Dana.
“Two hours.”
She sighed.
“Body armor stays on.”
We entered Bellhaven through the old industrial road.
The account login came from a closed hardware store.
Back door unlocked.
Inside smelled like dust and oil.
A computer sat on the counter.
Screen on.
One message.
MICHAEL WARD, YOU TOOK YOUR TIME.
I moved closer.
A second line appeared live.
BEN DIDN’T DIE BY ACCIDENT.
Dana’s agents searched the building.
Empty.
I typed:
WHERE ARE YOU?
The reply:
CLOSE ENOUGH TO SEE YOU.
I looked toward the front windows.
Nothing.
Then:
RICHARD ISN’T THE HEAD OF THIS FAMILY.
I typed:
CHARLES? EVELYN?
The cursor blinked.
Neither.
Another message.
THE PERSON WHO BURIED ASHBRIDGE STILL HAS A FEDERAL PENSION.
Dana and I looked at each other.
The screen flashed one final message.
DON’T TRUST THE WOMAN WHO ANSWERED YOUR SATELLITE PHONE.
Dana’s face went still.
The computer shut down.
I turned toward her.
She slowly lowered her hands away from her weapon.
“Michael.”
“Tell me why Voss thinks I shouldn’t trust you.”
“I don’t know.”
“Wrong answer.”
Then her phone rang.
May you like
Safe house alert.
Lily’s location had been compromised.
