Chapter 4 - Emma's Last Warning
Ruiz chased him through the station.
Nathan stayed with the locker because the detective had barked, "Do not leave that evidence unattended."
He hated every second of it.
Two minutes later, Ruiz returned alone, breathing hard.
"Lost him at the bus lane. Cameras may have him. Did you touch anything?"
"Only the lid."
She pulled on gloves and began photographing the contents.
The envelope was addressed in Emma's handwriting.
Nathan.
If you're reading this, I waited too long.
His hands went cold.
Ruiz opened the letter carefully and read aloud.
"Victoria has been moving money through shell vendors connected to the foundation. I confronted her. She says I don't understand how much Nathan has at stake. She has copies of his signature and access codes she should never have had. If I go to the police, she says Nathan will be blamed."
Nathan stared at the page.
Emma's charity foundation handled grants funded partly by his construction company. Victoria had served as volunteer treasurer.
He had signed hundreds of documents around her without thinking.
The voice recorder contained one file.
Emma's voice filled the station locker room.
"Victoria, stop lying. I have the transfers."
Then Victoria, unmistakable.
"You have pieces. You don't have the whole thing."
"I have enough."
"If Nathan sees this, he goes down with me. His signature is everywhere."
"You forged it."
A crash sounded on the recording.
Victoria hissed, "Give me the drive."
Emma said, "Get out of my house."
The file ended.
Nathan leaned against the lockers.
Ruiz looked at him. "When was this recorded?"
Nathan checked the timestamp.
9:42 p.m.
The night Emma died.
Her crash occurred at 10:31.
Ruiz's phone rang.
She listened, then looked at Nathan.
"Station security found our runner."
"Who is he?"
"You're not going to like it."
She turned the phone toward him.
May you like
The security still showed a familiar face beneath the cap.
Nathan's younger brother, Daniel.
