Chapter 11 - The Warehouse Of Secrets
The drive to the warehouse felt like it lasted forever.
Every second was another second Noah was alone.
Every red light felt like someone was holding me back.
Alex sat silently beside me.
Finally, I asked:
“Why was Lily afraid of you?”
He didn’t answer immediately.
“That’s complicated.”
“I don’t care.”
“I know.”
His voice was quiet.
“She saw me talking to Diane.”
“Why?”
“Because I was trying to warn her.”
I laughed bitterly.
“Warn her?”
“You think I wanted this?”
I looked at him.
“You were in my house.”
“I was trying to find the evidence before Richard did.”
“Then why didn’t you come to me?”
Alex looked out the window.
“Because Jason told me not to trust you.”
That hurt.
“My own brother?”
“He loved you.”
“Then why?”
“Because he knew you were too honest.”
I said nothing.
Alex continued.
“Jason knew you would go after the truth immediately.”
“And?”
“And you would get yourself killed.”
The warehouse appeared ahead.
Dark.
Empty.
Waiting.
We parked far away.
Alex checked the area.
“No cameras.”
“That’s impossible.”
He nodded.
“Exactly.”
We entered through a broken side door.
The smell hit me first.
Dust.
Oil.
Old metal.
Then I heard it.
A voice.
“Dad?”
My heart nearly stopped.
“Noah!”
I ran.
“Stop!”
Alex grabbed my shoulder.
“Too easy.”
I looked ahead.
And then I saw him.
Noah.
Tied to a chair.
But something was wrong.
He wasn’t crying.
He was looking at me.
Warning me.
“Dad…”
His voice shook.
“Don’t come closer.”
My blood froze.
Then the lights turned on.
Slowly.
One by one.
And there they were.
Diane.
Richard.
And another person.
Someone I never expected.
My mother.
I couldn’t move.
“Mom?”
She looked at me.
Her face was full of sadness.
“Daniel…”
“What are you doing here?”
Nobody answered.
Richard stepped forward.
“You always were the emotional one.”
I stared at him.
“You kidnapped my son.”
He smiled.
“We needed leverage.”
I looked at Diane.
“You helped them?”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I was trying to protect you.”
“No.”
My voice broke.
“You hurt my daughter.”
Diane looked down.
And for the first time…
She looked ashamed.
Richard laughed.
“Family is such a powerful thing.”
I turned toward him.
“What do you want?”
“The USB.”
I held it tightly.
“You’re not getting it.”
Richard smiled.
“You say that now.”
He walked toward Noah.
And my entire body went cold.
“Give it to me…”
May you like
He said.
“Or your son learns what happens when people refuse to cooperate.”
