Chapter 8 - THE RED FOLDER
Mateo drew his weapon and moved first.
Emiliano followed despite Cross ordering him to stay back.
Isabella’s office had been untouched since her death. Emiliano had never found the courage to clear it.
Now the door stood open.
A window at the rear had been smashed.
Drawers were pulled out. Papers covered the floor.
The small wall safe behind Isabella’s painting hung open.
Empty.
Mateo checked the window. “Rope marks on the stone. Someone came up from the service courtyard.”
Emiliano looked around the room and saw Grace’s description in his mind: Adrian, red folder, fear.
Detective Cross found a torn corner of paper beneath the desk.
Three handwritten words remained.
WHITMORE / REESE / VALE.
Marcus Vale—the mechanic from Isabella’s crash.
Whitmore—Celeste’s family.
Reese made Emiliano’s blood run colder.
Malcolm Reese had been Vega Holdings’ chief financial officer for twenty-two years. He had been his father’s closest friend.
“He was at the wedding,” Emiliano said.
Mateo checked his tablet. “He left twelve minutes after the slap.”
Cross photographed the paper.
“Call him.”
Emiliano did.
Malcolm answered on the third ring.
“What a disaster,” he said smoothly. “I was going to call you.”
“Where are you?”
“Home.”
Emiliano heard an airport announcement in the background.
He looked at Cross.
“What airport are you at, Malcolm?”
Silence.
Then Malcolm laughed once.
“You always were too much like Isabella.”
The line disconnected.
Cross immediately called airport police.
Mateo searched the office again.
Behind a row of old tax binders, he found a small brass key taped beneath a shelf.
A paper tag hung from it.
G-17.
Emiliano recognized Isabella’s handwriting.
Grace stood in the doorway despite being told to stay downstairs.
“That’s Mommy’s treasure key.”
Emiliano turned. “What?”
“She told me if I ever found it, I should give it to you when you were ready to hear the truth.”
Emiliano stared at his daughter.
“When did she tell you that?”
May you like
Grace’s answer was almost a whisper.
“The night before she died.”
