Chapter 14 - THE FLASH DRIVE
Officer Martinez returned with backup.
Within minutes, the yard was surrounded.
Greg was gone.
Again.
But this time, he had made a mistake.
A neighbor’s security camera caught his face.
His car.
His license plate.
The police knew exactly who they were looking for.
Inside, Officer Martinez turned to Evelyn.
“Tell me about the drive.”
Evelyn sat at the dining table.
She looked exhausted.
“It has files.”
“What files?”
“Bank records.”
Frank’s eyes narrowed.
“What bank records?”
“Greg’s.”
“How did you get them?”
“He gave me an old laptop once.”
I stared at her.
“And you found evidence?”
She nodded.
“Transfers. Accounts. Names.”
Officer Martinez leaned forward.
“Evidence of theft?”
“Yes.”
“From Frank’s business?”
“Not just Frank.”
The room went quiet.
“How many people?” Martinez asked.
“I don’t know. A lot.”
“Where is the drive?”
Evelyn said nothing.
“Mrs. Collins.”
“In the garage.”
Officer Martinez stood.
“Show me.”
They went together.
Frank sat beside me.
“I’m sorry.”
I looked at him.
“For what?”
“For not stopping her sooner.”
“You didn’t know.”
“I knew she didn’t like you.”
“That’s different.”
“I should’ve paid attention.”
I didn’t answer.
Sometimes a family teaches you not to notice its worst behavior.
Everyone adapts.
Everyone excuses.
Everyone tells themselves, “That’s just how she is.”
Until “just how she is” puts someone on the floor.
Daniel stood across the room.
He looked at me.
I looked away.
Evelyn returned with Officer Martinez ten minutes later.
The officer held a tiny black flash drive inside an evidence bag.
“This could be significant.”
Frank stared at his wife.
“You had this the whole time?”
“For months.”
“And you didn’t take it to the police?”
“I was afraid.”
“You could’ve ended this.”
“I know.”
“No. You don’t.”
His voice broke.
“You could have ended this before he came near my sons. Before he came near Rachel.”
Evelyn cried silently.
For once, nobody comforted her.
My phone buzzed again.
Everyone froze.
A text.
Unknown number.
But this one was different.
IT’S OVER.
I showed Officer Martinez.
She frowned.
Then another message arrived.
I’M SORRY.
Daniel whispered, “Greg?”
Before I could answer, Martinez’s radio crackled.
She listened.
Her face changed.
“Suspect vehicle found near the river.”
Frank stood.
“Is he there?”
She raised a hand.
The voice on the radio continued.
Then Martinez looked at us.
“They found Greg.”
Evelyn gripped the table.
“Alive?”
Martinez paused.
“Yes.”
Evelyn exhaled.
“But he’s not alone.”
My stomach dropped.
“With who?”
Officer Martinez looked directly at Daniel.
“Another man.”
Daniel went white.
“Who?”
May you like
The officer answered.
“Your uncle Michael.”
