Chapter 6 - The Storage Unit
The key opened a storage unit in Evanston under a false name.
Alexander wanted to go alone.
Maria refused.
"My sister left it to me."
"And someone may already know we found the room."
"Then you definitely shouldn't go alone."
Owen almost smiled.
Alexander didn't care.
He cared about the key.
The storage unit was almost empty.
One metal cabinet.
One banker box.
One old red suitcase.
Maria opened the cabinet first.
Inside were printed emails between Julia and Elena.
The first line Alexander read made him grip the paper harder.
VANESSA HAS ACCESS TO THE TRUST FILES THROUGH HER FATHER.
The second was worse.
I THINK SHE KNOWS ABOUT THE INSURANCE CLAUSE.
Alexander looked at Maria. "What insurance clause?"
She shook her head. "I don't know."
The banker box held photographs.
Vanessa entering Julia's office.
Vanessa meeting with a man outside Blackwood Holdings.
Vanessa standing beside Julia's car three days before the fatal crash.
Owen cursed under his breath.
"Who took these?"
Maria flipped one over.
Elena's handwriting: WATCHING HER.
The red suitcase was locked.
The brass key fit.
Inside lay a damaged laptop, a child's red mitten, and an old digital recorder.
Alexander picked up the mitten.
"This was Ethan's."
Maria looked at him. "Why would my sister have it?"
The recorder had one file.
Date stamped the night Julia died.
They played it.
At first there was only road noise.
Then Julia's voice.
"Elena, if you're hearing this, the brakes are failing."
Alexander stopped breathing.
Julia continued, terrified but controlled.
"Ethan is not with me. Thank God. Tell Alexander-"
A horn blared.
Metal screamed.
Then, through the chaos, another voice came faintly through the car speakers.
A woman's voice.
"You should have signed the papers, Julia."
Maria looked at Alexander.
May you like
He whispered one name.
"Vanessa."
