Chapter 10 - THE BREAK-IN
The back door was open when they arrived.
Daniel told Emily to stay in the car.
She ignored him.
They entered through the kitchen together.
“Mom?” Daniel shouted.
No answer.
A drawer slammed somewhere down the hall.
Daniel moved toward the study.
Emily followed two steps behind, phone ready to call 911.
They found Victor Shaw standing beside Daniel’s desk with the blue folder in his hand.
He froze.
Daniel did not.
He crossed the room, ripped the folder away, and shoved Victor back against the bookcase.
“What are you doing in my house?”
Victor raised both hands. “Your mother told me she had permission.”
“She doesn’t live here anymore.”
“She said she owned the house.”
Emily held up her phone. “I’m calling the police.”
Victor’s confidence broke.
“Wait.”
Daniel let him go but stayed between Victor and the door.
“Start talking.”
Victor looked from Daniel to Emily.
“I was hired for background research. That’s all.”
“You entered my house.”
“I was told to retrieve property belonging to my client.”
“The folder?” Emily asked.
Victor hesitated.
Daniel’s eyes narrowed. “What else?”
Victor glanced at the desk.
Emily noticed the lower drawer was open.
Inside, the envelope from Thomas had been moved.
The flash drive was gone.
Daniel lunged forward. “Where is it?”
Victor backed up. “I didn’t take anything.”
“You came in here for the drive.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Police sirens sounded outside.
Victor went pale.
Then his phone rang.
MARGARET MERRITT flashed across the screen.
Daniel reached for it, but Victor pulled away.
Emily said, “Answer.”
Victor stared at her.
“Put it on speaker.”
He did.
Margaret’s voice came through immediately.
“Did you find Thomas’s file?”
No one spoke.
“Victor?”
Emily stepped closer to the phone.
“No,” she said. “But we found you.”
The line went dead.
Victor closed his eyes.
Daniel looked at him.
“You can explain everything to the police.”
Victor swallowed.
Then he said, “If I do, your mother will destroy me.”
Claire’s voice came from the doorway behind them.
“No,” she said. “She’ll try.”
Everyone turned.
Claire held up the missing flash drive.
May you like
“I made a copy before I left the house.”
• • •
