Chapter 6 - The Second Locker
Mara watched Victor Shaw seal Claire's envelope inside an evidence pouch.
"You don't have authority to take that," Mara said.
Victor didn't look at her. "Daniel used Halcyon systems. This is corporate property."
Claire stood in the doorway, furious now instead of afraid.
"My husband is missing. Nothing he left me belongs to your company."
Victor's jaw tightened.
His phone buzzed.
He read one line and left the room without explanation.
Mara waited three seconds.
Then she locked the door.
Claire pulled the second envelope from inside her coat.
"He thought someone might come for the first."
Mara tore it open.
Inside was a handwritten note.
MARA - LOCKER B. TRUST NORA. DO NOT TRUST THE BOARD.
Below it was an address near downtown Dallas.
And one sentence that made Claire sit down.
OWEN KESSLER IS ALIVE IF THEY HAVEN'T MOVED HIM.
Mara called Daniel.
He answered.
She told him about the note.
Silence.
Then Daniel said, "Don't go to the locker alone."
"Where are you?"
"Hospital. Nora just had the baby."
Mara frowned. "Why would I trust Nora?"
Daniel looked at his sister across the room.
"Because Owen trusted her with the part nobody else has."
Nora heard him.
"What part?"
Daniel closed his eyes.
May you like
"The names."
Claire had spent years watching Daniel carry family problems alone until they turned into secrets. She hated the habit and hated herself for accepting it. This time, when he had pressed the two envelopes into her hand before leaving, she had made him promise that if he came back, they would stop calling secrecy protection.
