Chapter 3 - THE ROOM NOBODY WAS SUPPOSED TO OPENThe basement smelled of concrete and old dust.
Richard walked beside Maya.
Dean followed with two security officers.
The elevator doors opened.
A red warning light flashed at the end of the corridor.
Maya had never been down there.
She had been told the east basement was closed for renovation.
Apparently, that wasn't true.
“Who has access?” she asked.
Dean checked his tablet.
“Four people.”
“Names.”
“Richard Hale.”
“Victoria?”
“Yes.”
“Jonathan Pierce?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
Dean hesitated.
“Edward Hale.”
Richard stopped.
“My father has been dead for twelve years.”
“I know.”
“Then why is his access still active?”
Nobody answered.
Maya walked toward the door.
The electronic lock was damaged.
Someone had forced it open.
She looked at Richard.
“Someone came here recently.”
They entered.
The room was larger than expected.
Shelves lined the walls.
Old documents filled metal cabinets.
Boxes were stacked in corners.
Maya switched on her flashlight.
Then stopped.
There were dozens of hotel records.
Original contracts.
Property deeds.
Bank statements.
Employee files.
And one large safe.
Richard walked toward it.
“My father kept this.”
Maya examined the lock.
“Do you know the combination?”
“No.”
“Try his birthday.”
Richard entered numbers.
Nothing.
“His wedding anniversary?”
Nothing.
Maya thought.
“What did he care about most?”
Richard looked at her.
“The hotel.”
Maya entered the hotel's opening date.
The safe clicked.
The door opened.
Inside was a single envelope.
Richard took it.
His hands shook.
The envelope was addressed:
TO RICHARD, IF YOU EVER DISCOVER WHAT THEY DID.
Maya watched him open it.
His father's handwriting filled the page.
Richard read silently.
Then he sat down.
“What?”
He couldn't speak.
Maya took the letter.
She read.
Edward had discovered that someone had been using the hotel to launder money.
But it went further.
The hotel had been used to hide illegal payments connected to several politicians and corporate executives.
Edward planned to expose everything.
Then he discovered Victoria was involved.
She wasn't the mastermind.
She had been recruited.
The real mastermind was Jonathan Pierce.
Maya's heart dropped.
Richard stared at her.
“My father knew.”
“Yes.”
“He knew Victoria was helping him.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't he expose them?”
Maya continued reading.
The final paragraph answered it.
Because they threatened Richard.
Richard went completely still.
His father had been told that if he went to the police, Richard would be harmed.
Edward had remained silent.
Then he began secretly collecting evidence.
Until he died.
Maya looked at Richard.
“This wasn't a heart attack.”
Richard stared at her.
“What?”
The letter contained one final sentence.
If I die suddenly, do not believe it was natural.
Richard's face drained of color.
“My father was murdered.”
Before Maya could respond, footsteps echoed outside.
Someone was coming.
Dean raised his hand.
The security officers moved into position.
The door opened.
Victoria stood there.
She looked furious.
“How did you get in here?”
Maya stared at her.
“You still have access.”
Victoria's eyes moved to the open safe.
Then to the letter in Richard's hand.
Her expression changed.
Fear.
Real fear.
“Dad…”
Richard looked at her.
“You knew.”
Victoria swallowed.
“I didn't kill him.”
“You knew.”
“I was scared.”
“You knew they were using the hotel.”
“Yes.”
Maya stepped closer.
“Who is they?”
Victoria looked at her.
Then whispered,
“Jonathan.”
Richard's face hardened.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because he threatened us.”
“Us?”
Victoria looked toward Maya.
“No.”
Her voice cracked.
“He threatened you.”
Richard froze.
Then Victoria said something that changed everything.
“Your father didn't die because he knew too much.”
She looked at the letter.
“He died because he was about to tell the police.”
A sound came from the corridor.
Footsteps.
May you like
Victoria's eyes widened.
“Jonathan is here.”
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