Chapter 10 - THE NIGHT ON THE DOCK
By morning, Lena had delivered the message to the investigators already reviewing the ledger.
Cole's attorney arranged an interview.
Gabriel provided the harbor's access logs and suspended Richard's remote entry privileges through the property manager.
No one promised an arrest by dinner.
Rose hated that, too.
The company records showed a night crew scheduled to clear damaged cargo from a storage building near Pier Fourteen.
The work order had been filed before the wedding.
Richard's office had marked the contents as spoiled packaging.
Daniel's old archive boxes were stored in the same building.
Lena called the investigators again.
This time, she had an address and a reason the records might vanish.
Rose stayed at Ada's shop while officers went to the property.
She wanted to go.
Ada put a mug in front of her.
“You don't have to stand in every fire to prove you care.”
At eleven, a detective called.
The crew had arrived early.
Officers had stopped a truck leaving the yard and secured the building while they checked the documents authorizing the removal.
Richard wasn't there.
Neither was Owen, who had been released pending further proceedings in the door incident.
By midnight, the archive boxes were safe.
Inside were duplicate manifests, handwritten checks, and a small notebook with Daniel's name on the cover.
Ada covered her mouth when the detective described it.
“He always kept one in his shirt pocket.”
Rose thought the worst part of the night was over.
Then her mother called.
“He came back.”
“Where are you?”
“At the house.”
“Why did you go there?”
“To get clothes.”
Rose heard Richard speaking in the background.
His voice was almost gentle.
That frightened her more than shouting.
“Tell her,” he said.
Her mother began again.
“He says you took private company records.
He says if you don't bring the ledger back, he'll tell them I approved the trust transfers.”
Lena was already reaching for her phone.
Rose kept her mother talking.
“Did you approve them?”
A long breath.
“One.
I signed one.”
Richard took the phone.
May you like
“You wanted everyone to tell the truth, Rose.
Let's see how much your mother can survive.”
