Chapter 9 - THE MISSING RECORDING
Charles provided prosecutors with dozens of files.
But one recording was missing.
The most important one.
It contained Vanessa admitting she ordered Elena’s car off the road.
Charles claimed he had hidden a backup.
Vanessa knew where.
So did someone else.
Dr. Warren.
The former hospital administrator disappeared before police could question him.
Then Adrian received a message.
NO POLICE.
BRING CHARLES’S DRIVE.
COME ALONE.
An address followed.
An abandoned medical storage facility outside the city.
Adrian knew it was a trap.
He went anyway.
But not alone.
Police followed at a distance.
Elena discovered the plan.
“You’re risking your life.”
“This ends tonight.”
“Noah needs you.”
Adrian looked at her.
“So do you.”
Elena went silent.
Adrian realized what he had said.
Neither corrected it.
At the warehouse, Dr. Warren waited.
He wanted money.
Five million dollars.
In exchange, he would surrender the recording.
“You destroyed three lives for money.”
Warren shrugged.
“I made one mistake.”
Adrian stared at him.
“What?”
“I trusted Vanessa.”
A sound came from behind them.
Warren turned.
Vanessa stepped from the shadows.
She had been released pending further investigation because prosecutors had not yet filed the most serious charges.
She was holding Warren’s missing drive.
“You should never trust desperate men.”
Warren backed away.
“You followed me?”
Vanessa smiled.
“No.”
“I followed Adrian.”
Police moved in.
Vanessa saw them.
She ran.
The chase ended near a loading dock.
Adrian caught up with her.
Vanessa stood near the edge.
“Give me the drive.”
She laughed.
“You still think this is about evidence?”
She held it over the water.
“It’s about what people are willing to lose.”
Then she dropped it.
Adrian watched it disappear.
Vanessa smiled.
Until another voice came from behind her.
“I made three copies.”
May you like
Charles stood beside a detective.
Vanessa’s smile vanished.
