Chapter 15 - What the Old File Proved
"I am not going to meet Pike at Old Harbor," I told Monroe.
"I didn't ask you to," she said. "Pike doesn't choose where we interview him. We're arranging a controlled meeting at the precinct. Stay here if you can."
I was relieved. In the movies, people always ran into the building where the villain wanted them. In real life, you preserved the evidence and let trained officers do their jobs.
Marian Bell emailed a second packet. Buried among the old invoices was a certificate signed by Pike stating the Old Harbor's emergency doors had passed inspection. The date matched my photograph of the chain still on the stairwell.
I found that picture in my old cloud archive. The timestamp and location were intact. I sent it to Monroe with my original report.
"He lied about that inspection," I said. "Now his company is billing Haven Bridge for site visits that didn't happen."
Nadia called just after one. "The judge granted a temporary order preventing lock changes and the disposal of residents' belongings. It's narrow, but it buys us time."
I let myself exhale for the first time in hours.
"And the money?"
"The escrow agent has acknowledged the dispute. Counsel says the Monday release is on hold pending review."
In the west room, Rosa cried when I told her. One of her children asked if they could go home now.
"Not yet," she said. "But people are finally listening."
Then Iris's borrowed phone rang. Marian was on the line, speaking so fast I could barely understand her.
"Lena, there is one more record. The photographers weren't hired through Vanessa's event office. Their invoice came from Pike's security company."
May you like
She paused.
"And their assignment was labeled EMPLOYEE ALTERCATIONāPREPLANNED."
