Chapter 7 - The Boy with the Phone
Jamie was twenty, working two jobs while taking online classes in business management. He had started at the Bellwether because his grandmother said a hotel was a place where a person could learn how the world worked. In the last month, he had learned how easily a powerful person could make the truth disappear.
“I was taking a video for the staff group chat,” he explained. “Victoria was yelling at a banquet worker about the Harbor House envelopes. I didn't mean to record the rest.”
He showed Elena a clip. In it, Victoria stood in the service office with Paul Mercer, the missing chief financial officer. Paul passed her a thick envelope. She checked the corridor, then slipped it into a black case marked NORTHSTAR.
“Move it before the auditors arrive,” Victoria said.
“They're not due until Monday,” Paul replied.
“Then you'll have it done early.”
Elena watched it twice. “Can you send me the original file?”
“Company property. You're violating privacy rules.”
“Touch him and you'll be explaining it to the police.”
Victoria appeared at the end of the corridor, her expression almost cheerful. “Miss Vale, you can't threaten employees on my property.”
“Your property?” Elena asked. “You keep saying that as if repeating it makes it true.”
“Three times this week. I thought it was a joke.”
Elena took a screenshot. “It isn't a joke anymore. We'll get you somewhere safe.”
Jamie shook his head. “There's more. I heard Paul talking about a meeting at Pier 19 tonight. He said Victoria was going to hand over the final documents.”
PIER 19. 11:40.
May you like
She checked the time. 10:52 p.m. Then another message appeared on Jamie's phone.
WE KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE.
