Chapter 3 - Six Missing Minutes
The first police interview ended shortly after midnight.
I gave the detective my recording, described the attack, and answered every question without trying to protect Adrian's reputation.
Detective Lena Brooks had a quiet voice and the habit of waiting through silence until people found the courage to finish.
"You don't have to solve the fraud for us," she said.
"I know."
"Then let us investigate it."
I nodded.
Still, there was one question I couldn't stop asking.
Who had selected the exact afternoon I would appear in Adrian's parking garage?
Melissa had called me about the forgotten binder.
Vanessa had claimed to see me there.
The accusation had become the pretext for violence and a coerced signature.
Those pieces fitted together too neatly.
At 7:12 a.m., Charlotte and I joined a secure call with Daniel.
"Garage video?" I asked.
"The property manager says the relevant file is unavailable."
"Unavailable how?"
"A six-minute segment is missing."
I gripped the arm of the chair.
Six minutes.
Exactly the period I'd been inside.
"They deleted it."
"Possibly," Daniel replied, "but another camera may have an independent recording."
Detective Brooks obtained the name of the building security contractor and arranged for preservation requests.
I could do nothing useful by charging into the garage myself.
So I went back to the one person who had summoned me there.
Melissa hadn't answered her phone since the evening before.
Her work email now returned an automatic notice saying the account was disabled.
Adrian's office said she'd taken sudden leave.
I knew Melissa.
She was careful, punctual, and fiercely proud of never missing a deadline.
She wouldn't disappear on the morning of a multibillion-dollar closing without telling anyone.
At nine, an unfamiliar number called.
I answered with Charlotte listening beside me.
"Mrs. Hart?"
The voice was thin and hurried.
"Melissa?"
"Please don't use my name."
I sat forward.
"Where are you?"
"I can't say. I shouldn't even be calling."
"Are you safe?"
She hesitated too long.
"The binder wasn't forgotten."
I looked at Charlotte.
"What do you mean?"
"I was told to call you. Mr. Vale's office said it was a routine delivery."
My mouth went dry.
"Did Adrian know?"
"I don't think he knew about the camera, but he knew you were coming."
Behind Melissa's voice I heard a train announcement.
"Why are you hiding?"
"Because I saw who accessed the archive after your visit."
"Who?"
Her breathing quickened.
"I copied the entry log. They know."
A sharp sound interrupted the call.
"Melissa?"
Then a whisper.
"Don't trust the man who brings you the blue folder."
The line went dead.
I stared at the screen.
May you like
Across the room, Daniel was entering with a blue folder under his arm.
