PART 3 \u2014 THE PAPERS BARLOW TRIED TO BURY
\nThe key turned halfway.
\nThen stopped.
\nFor one strange second, nobody moved.
\nWesley stared at the door.
\nI stared at Wesley.
\nAnd Nolan\u2019s fingers tightened around mine so hard that his little nails dug into my skin.
\nThe key turned again.
\nThis time harder.
\nMetal scraped against metal.
\nThen came a frustrated curse from the hallway.
\nWesley looked toward me.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cYou said I fixed the latch.\u201d
\n\u201cYou did.\u201d
\n\u201cDid Barlow have a master key?\u201d
\n\u201cHe has keys to every apartment.\u201d
\n\u201cNot anymore.\u201d
\nI didn\u2019t understand.
\nThen Wesley pointed toward the inside of the lock.
\n\u201cWhen I adjusted the door, I noticed the cylinder was loose. I tightened it. His worn key probably isn\u2019t seating correctly.\u201d
\nAnother shove rattled the door.
\n\u201cOpen up!\u201d Mr. Barlow shouted.
\nNolan flinched.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I pulled him close.
\n\u201cWhat do we do?\u201d I whispered.
\nWesley held the plastic folder against his chest.
\n\u201cDo you have a fire escape?\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cSecond exit?\u201d
\n\u201cBedroom window, but we\u2019re on the third floor.\u201d
\n\u201cThen we don\u2019t run.\u201d
\n\u201cThat\u2019s your plan?\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nHe pulled out his phone.
\n\u201cWe record.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
He tapped the screen and slipped the phone into his sweatshirt pocket with the camera facing outward.
\nThen he handed me the folder.
\n\u201cHide this.\u201d
\n\u201cWhere?\u201d
\n\u201cSomewhere he won\u2019t look.\u201d
\nI glanced around.
\nThe apartment suddenly seemed too small.
\nToo open.
\nToo obvious.
\nEvery drawer.
\nEvery cabinet.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Every closet.
\nMr. Barlow owned the building.
\nHe knew the rooms.
\nThen Nolan tugged my sleeve.
\n\u201cMom.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cMy science project.\u201d
\nI looked at him.
\nHe pointed toward the battered cardboard solar system sitting on top of the bookshelf.
\nIt was a huge mess of painted foam planets, glitter, wires, and a shoebox base.
\nI almost said no.
\nThen I understood.
\nI grabbed it.
\nThe bottom had already been cut open so Nolan could hide the battery pack.
\nI slid the plastic folder inside beneath the black paper representing \u201cspace.\u201d
\nNolan pushed the battery pack back over it.
\nThen I returned the model to the shelf.
\nFrom ten feet away, it looked exactly like what it was supposed to be.
\nA nine-year-old\u2019s school project nobody sane would touch.
\nMr. Barlow hammered on the door again.
\n\u201cAudrey, I know you\u2019re in there!\u201d
\nI swallowed.
\nWesley whispered, \u201cDon\u2019t tell him we found anything.\u201d
\nI nodded.
\nThen I opened the door.
\nNot all the way.
\nJust enough to see Mr. Barlow\u2019s face.
\nHe was furious.
\nAnd he wasn\u2019t alone.
\nA younger man stood behind him.
\nMaybe thirty.
\nTall.
\nBroad shoulders.
\nGray work jacket.
\nI had seen him around the building before but never knew his name.
\nMr. Barlow pushed the door.
\nI held it.
\n\u201cWhat do you want?\u201d
\n\u201cI left something.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cMaintenance paperwork.\u201d
\nMy heart kicked against my ribs.
\n\u201cWhat maintenance paperwork?\u201d
\n\u201cIn the kitchen.\u201d
\n\u201cYou were already in my kitchen.\u201d
\n\u201cMove.\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nHis eyes narrowed.
\n\u201cAudrey.\u201d
\n\u201cYou told me to leave within seven days. Fine. But until then, I still live here.\u201d
\nThe younger man glanced at Wesley.
\nThen at Nolan.
\nHe looked uncomfortable.
\nMr. Barlow lowered his voice.
\n\u201cDon\u2019t make this complicated.\u201d
\n\u201cIt became complicated when you came back after threatening to evict me.\u201d
\nHis jaw tightened.
\n\u201cLet me inside.\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nWesley stepped closer.
\n\u201cYou should leave.\u201d
\nMr. Barlow looked past me.
\n\u201cYou.\u201d
\nWesley smiled without warmth.
\n\u201cMe.\u201d
\n\u201cI thought I told you to get out.\u201d
\n\u201cAnd I thought Audrey told you to leave.\u201d
\n\u201cThis building belongs to me.\u201d
\nWesley\u2019s expression didn\u2019t change.
\n\u201cHer home doesn\u2019t.\u201d
\nMr. Barlow pushed the door again.
\nHard.
\nI stumbled backward.
\nThat was all the opening he needed.
\nHe forced himself inside.
\nThe younger man followed, but slowly.
\n\u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d I shouted.
\nMr. Barlow headed straight for the kitchen.
\nExactly where we had found the folder.
\nHe dropped to one knee beside the exposed wall.
\nHis hand disappeared into the cavity.
\nOnce.
\nTwice.
\nThen deeper.
\nI watched his face.
\nIt changed.
\nConfusion first.
\nThen panic.
\nThen rage.
\nHe spun around.
\n\u201cWhere is it?\u201d
\nMy mouth went dry.
\n\u201cWhere is what?\u201d
\n\u201cThe envelope.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat envelope?\u201d
\n\u201cYou know exactly what I\u2019m talking about.\u201d
\nWesley leaned against the counter.
\n\u201cI thought you came back for maintenance paperwork.\u201d
\nMr. Barlow glared at him.
\n\u201cThat\u2019s what I said.\u201d
\n\u201cThen why are you calling it an envelope now?\u201d
\nSilence.
\nThe younger man behind him shifted uneasily.
\nMr. Barlow looked toward him.
\n\u201cCheck the cabinets.\u201d
\nI stepped forward.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nThe younger man froze.
\nMr. Barlow snapped, \u201cDerek.\u201d
\nSo that was his name.
\nDerek looked at me.
\nThen at Nolan.
\n\u201cI\u2019m not searching her stuff.\u201d
\nMr. Barlow\u2019s face darkened.
\n\u201cYou work for me.\u201d
\n\u201cYeah. Maintenance.\u201d
\n\u201cThen maintain.\u201d
\n\u201cThat ain\u2019t maintenance.\u201d
\nWesley\u2019s eyes narrowed.
\nMr. Barlow stood.
\n\u201cYou\u2019re fired.\u201d
\nDerek shrugged.
\n\u201cProbably overdue.\u201d
\nI almost laughed from pure nerves.
\nMr. Barlow did not.
\nHe walked toward Wesley.
\n\u201cYou found something.\u201d
\nWesley didn\u2019t blink.
\n\u201cYou seem very worried that I did.\u201d
\n\u201cYou have no idea what you\u2019re involving yourself in.\u201d
\n\u201cActually, I think I know exactly.\u201d
\nMr. Barlow lowered his voice.
\n\u201cThe River Street accident was six years ago.\u201d
\n\u201cI remember.\u201d
\n\u201cThen remember the settlement.\u201d
\nWesley\u2019s face tightened.
\n\u201cWhat settlement?\u201d
\nMr. Barlow stopped.
\nThe entire room seemed to shrink.
\nWesley pushed away from the counter.
\n\u201cWhat did you just say?\u201d
\nMr. Barlow\u2019s expression told me he wished he could swallow those words.
\nWesley took one step closer.
\n\u201cThere was no settlement.\u201d
\n\u201cYou got workers\u2019 comp.\u201d
\n\u201cThat wasn\u2019t a settlement.\u201d
\n\u201cYou got money.\u201d
\n\u201cI got medical payments and partial wages.\u201d
\nMr. Barlow looked away.
\nWesley\u2019s voice sharpened.
\n\u201cWhat settlement?\u201d
\nDerek glanced toward the door.
\n\u201cI should go.\u201d
\nMr. Barlow pointed at him.
\n\u201cStay.\u201d
\nDerek stopped.
\nWesley pulled his phone from his pocket.
\n\u201cYou just said settlement.\u201d
\nMr. Barlow stared at the phone.
\n\u201cYou recording me?\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\nMr. Barlow lunged.
\nIt happened so quickly I barely understood what I was seeing.
\nHe grabbed for Wesley\u2019s phone.
\nWesley stepped back.
\nHis injured leg twisted.
\nHe cried out and slammed against the refrigerator.
\nNolan screamed.
\nSomething inside me snapped.
\nI grabbed the heavy cast-iron skillet from the stove.
\n\u201cGet away from him!\u201d
\nMr. Barlow froze.
\nI held the skillet in both hands.
\nMy arms were shaking.
\nI had never threatened anyone with anything in my life.
\nI probably looked ridiculous.
\nBut I meant it.
\n\u201cLeave my apartment.\u201d
\nMr. Barlow stared at me.
\n\u201cAudrey.\u201d
\n\u201cNow.\u201d
\n\u201cYou\u2019re making a terrible mistake.\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nMy voice steadied.
\n\u201cI made the mistake three years ago when I believed every excuse you gave me.\u201d
\nHe looked at Nolan.
\nThen at Wesley.
\nThen at Derek.
\nHis eyes stopped on the bookshelf.
\nFor one terrible second, I thought he knew.
\nHis gaze passed over Nolan\u2019s solar system.
\nThen moved on.
\nI forced myself not to look at it.
\nMr. Barlow stepped toward the door.
\nBefore leaving, he pointed at Wesley.
\n\u201cIf you found anything in that wall, it belongs to me.\u201d
\nWesley was still gripping his knee.
\n\u201cEvidence doesn\u2019t belong to the person who hid it.\u201d
\nMr. Barlow\u2019s face went flat.
\nCompletely flat.
\nThat frightened me more than his anger.
\nThen he looked at me.
\n\u201cYou have until Friday.\u201d
\nHe left.
\nThe door slammed.
\nDerek remained.
\nI stared at him.
\n\u201cAren\u2019t you going with him?\u201d
\nHe looked through the doorway.
\nThen quietly closed the door.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nWesley straightened carefully.
\n\u201cYou okay?\u201d
\nDerek nodded.
\nThen looked toward the hole in the kitchen.
\n\u201cWhat did you find?\u201d
\nNobody answered.
\nDerek exhaled.
\n\u201cIf it\u2019s what I think it is, you need to get it out of this building.\u201d
\nMy skin prickled.
\n\u201cWhat do you think it is?\u201d
\nHe looked at Nolan.
\n\u201cCan your kid go to another room?\u201d
\n\u201cNo,\u201d Nolan said immediately.
\nDespite everything, Wesley almost smiled.
\nI didn\u2019t.
\n\u201cNolan, bedroom.\u201d
\n\u201cBut Mom\u2014\u201d
\n\u201cTake your backpack. We\u2019re leaving soon.\u201d
\nHe hesitated.
\nThen looked at Wesley.
\nWesley nodded.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s okay.\u201d
\nNolan finally walked down the hall.
\nThe second his bedroom door shut, Derek lowered his voice.
\n\u201cBarlow has been tearing apart walls in this building for three weeks.\u201d
\nI stared at him.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cAt night.\u201d
\n\u201cWhy?\u201d
\n\u201cHe said there were old plumbing lines he wanted checked.\u201d
\nWesley\u2019s face hardened.
\n\u201cWhich apartments?\u201d
\n\u201cTwo-B. Four-A. Basement storage. Mrs. Campbell\u2019s pantry.\u201d
\n\u201cMy apartment?\u201d
\n\u201cWas next.\u201d
\nA cold wave passed through me.
\n\u201cNext?\u201d
\nDerek nodded.
\n\u201cHe told me yesterday we\u2019d open your kitchen wall this weekend.\u201d
\nWesley and I looked at each other.
\n\u201cIf Wesley hadn\u2019t opened it first\u2026\u201d I said.
\nDerek finished the thought.
\n\u201cBarlow would have.\u201d
\nI sat down.
\nMy legs suddenly felt weak.
\nWesley looked toward the wall.
\n\u201cSo he knew something was hidden.\u201d
\n\u201cYeah.\u201d
\nDerek rubbed the back of his neck.
\n\u201cI just didn\u2019t know what.\u201d
\n\u201cHow long have you worked for him?\u201d Wesley asked.
\n\u201cThree years.\u201d
\n\u201cYou ever hear about River Street?\u201d
\nDerek\u2019s eyes lifted.
\n\u201cEverybody who works for Barlow hears about River Street.\u201d
\nMy heart thudded.
\n\u201cWhat do they say?\u201d
\n\u201cThat it was the accident that killed his old company.\u201d
\nWesley\u2019s jaw clenched.
\n\u201cIt killed more than his company.\u201d
\nDerek nodded slowly.
\n\u201cI know.\u201d
\n\u201cDo you know the name Calvin Mercer?\u201d
\nDerek thought.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nWesley swallowed.
\n\u201cHe was the man who died.\u201d
\nDerek looked uncomfortable.
\n\u201cI\u2019m sorry.\u201d
\nWesley turned away.
\nFor a moment, the anger drained from him.
\nAll that was left was grief.
\nOld grief.
\nHeavy grief.
\nThe kind that doesn\u2019t disappear.
\nIt just learns how to sit quietly inside a person.
\nThen Derek said, \u201cThere was another name.\u201d
\nWesley turned back.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cBarlow mentioned somebody whenever he got drunk.\u201d
\n\u201cWho?\u201d
\n\u201cDon\u2019t remember the first name.\u201d
\nDerek frowned.
\n\u201cLast name was Cole.\u201d
\nWesley\u2019s face changed.
\n\u201cMarcus Cole?\u201d
\nDerek snapped his fingers.
\n\u201cYeah. Marcus.\u201d
\nWesley staggered backward.
\nI caught his arm.
\n\u201cWho\u2019s Marcus?\u201d
\nHe didn\u2019t answer.
\n\u201cWesley.\u201d
\nHe sat down.
\n\u201cMarcus was our site supervisor.\u201d
\n\u201cThe one at River Street?\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cWas he hurt too?\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat happened to him?\u201d
\nWesley looked at Derek.
\n\u201cHe disappeared two days after Calvin died.\u201d
\nI frowned.
\n\u201cDisappeared how?\u201d
\n\u201cHe stopped answering calls. His apartment was empty. His truck was gone.\u201d
\n\u201cPolice?\u201d
\n\u201cHe wasn\u2019t officially missing. He was an adult. They said he probably left town.\u201d
\n\u201cBut you didn\u2019t believe that.\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cWhy?\u201d
\nWesley looked toward the kitchen wall.
\n\u201cBecause Marcus called me from the hospital the night after the accident.\u201d
\nMy stomach tightened.
\n\u201cWhat did he say?\u201d
\nWesley took a slow breath.
\n\u201cHe said, \u2018It wasn\u2019t an accident.\u2019\u201d
\nNobody spoke.
\n\u201cHe said he had proof Barlow knew the scaffolding was unsafe. Inspection reports. Emails. Photographs.\u201d
\nI looked toward Nolan\u2019s science project.
\n\u201cAnd then he vanished.\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\nDerek went pale.
\n\u201cJesus.\u201d
\nWesley continued.
\n\u201cI told investigators about the call. They searched Marcus\u2019s place but found nothing.\u201d
\n\u201cUntil now,\u201d I whispered.
\nWesley nodded.
\nWe stood there in silence.
\nThen Derek said something that made my blood run cold.
\n\u201cThere\u2019s more.\u201d
\nI looked at him.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cBarlow didn\u2019t buy this building three years ago.\u201d
\n\u201cYes, he did.\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nDerek shook his head.
\n\u201cHe started managing it three years ago. He\u2019s owned it much longer.\u201d
\n\u201cHow much longer?\u201d
\n\u201cI\u2019ve seen old tax paperwork in his office.\u201d
\nWesley became very still.
\n\u201cSince when?\u201d
\nDerek thought.
\n\u201cMaybe seven years.\u201d
\nWesley stared at him.
\n\u201cBefore River Street?\u201d
\n\u201cYeah.\u201d
\nMy mouth went dry.
\nWhich meant these papers might have been hidden in this wall when the accident happened.
\nSomeone had known they existed.
\nSomeone had put them here.
\nAnd six years later, Barlow was suddenly tearing apart apartments trying to find them.
\n\u201cWhy now?\u201d I asked.
\nDerek looked at me.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cIf the papers have been hidden six years, why is he looking now?\u201d
\nDerek\u2019s expression changed.
\n\u201cI might know.\u201d
\nWesley stepped closer.
\n\u201cTell us.\u201d
\n\u201cAbout a month ago, a woman came to Barlow\u2019s office.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat woman?\u201d
\n\u201cOlder. Maybe sixties.\u201d
\n\u201cName?\u201d
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat did she want?\u201d
\n\u201cShe asked him if he remembered Marcus Cole.\u201d
\nWesley went rigid.
\n\u201cWhat happened?\u201d
\n\u201cThey argued.\u201d
\n\u201cAbout what?\u201d
\n\u201cI couldn\u2019t hear everything.\u201d
\nDerek paused.
\n\u201cBut I heard her say, \u2018You have thirty days to give me what belongs to my son.\u2019\u201d
\nWesley stared at him.
\n\u201cHer son?\u201d
\n\u201cMarcus,\u201d I whispered.
\nDerek nodded.
\n\u201cShe was his mother.\u201d
\nWesley covered his mouth.
\nThe room went silent.
\nThen I heard Nolan\u2019s bedroom door creak.
\nHe had been listening.
\nOf course he had.
\n\u201cNolan.\u201d
\nHe stepped into the hall.
\n\u201cSorry.\u201d
\nI should have been angry.
\nInstead I was too tired.
\n\u201cGet your coat.\u201d
\n\u201cAre we going to Aunt Melissa\u2019s?\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\nWesley looked at Derek.
\n\u201cYou need to leave too.\u201d
\nDerek nodded.
\n\u201cProbably.\u201d
\n\u201cNo. I mean leave Barlow.\u201d
\n\u201cI already got fired.\u201d
\n\u201cI mean leave this building.\u201d
\nDerek looked confused.
\nWesley lowered his voice.
\n\u201cIf Barlow thinks you told us something, he may come after you.\u201d
\nDerek laughed nervously.
\n\u201cWhat is this, a movie?\u201d
\nWesley didn\u2019t laugh.
\nNeither did I.
\nDerek stopped smiling.
\n\u201cI\u2019ve got a girlfriend across town.\u201d
\n\u201cStay there.\u201d
\nDerek nodded.
\nThen hesitated.
\n\u201cThere\u2019s something in Barlow\u2019s office you might want.\u201d
\nWesley\u2019s eyes narrowed.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cOld employee files from the renovation company.\u201d
\n\u201cYou\u2019ve seen them?\u201d
\n\u201cBoxes in the storage closet.\u201d
\n\u201cWhy would he keep them?\u201d
\n\u201cNo clue.\u201d
\n\u201cCan you get them?\u201d
\nDerek looked toward the door.
\n\u201cNot anymore.\u201d
\n\u201cYou still have keys?\u201d
\nDerek reached into his pocket.
\nA ring of keys jingled.
\n\u201cTechnically.\u201d
\nI stared at him.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nBoth men looked at me.
\n\u201cWe are not breaking into an office.\u201d
\nDerek raised his hands.
\n\u201cWasn\u2019t saying we should.\u201d
\nWesley nodded.
\n\u201cShe\u2019s right.\u201d
\nI blinked.
\nThat was easier than expected.
\nThen Wesley added, \u201cWe call the lawyer first.\u201d
\nI picked up my purse.
\n\u201cWe leave first.\u201d
\nNobody argued with that.
\nI took Nolan\u2019s science project from the shelf.
\nHe stared at me.
\n\u201cYou\u2019re bringing Neptune?\u201d
\n\u201cI\u2019m bringing your entire solar system.\u201d
\n\u201cMrs. Jensen said it has to stay flat.\u201d
\n\u201cNolan.\u201d
\n\u201cOkay.\u201d
\nWe carried everything downstairs.
\nThe hallway was empty.
\nOutside, the cold hit us immediately.
\nDerek walked toward an old pickup truck.
\nWesley limped beside me.
\nThen stopped.
\n\u201cWait.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\nHe looked across the parking lot.
\nA dark sedan was parked beneath a broken streetlight.
\nEngine running.
\nSomeone was sitting inside.
\nWatching our building.
\n\u201cDo you know that car?\u201d Wesley asked.
\nI shook my head.
\nDerek looked over.
\nThen his face changed.
\n\u201cYeah.\u201d
\n\u201cWho is it?\u201d
\n\u201cBarlow\u2019s.\u201d
\nI stared.
\n\u201cThat isn\u2019t the car he was driving earlier.\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nDerek swallowed.
\n\u201cIt belongs to his wife.\u201d
\nThe sedan\u2019s headlights came on.
\nIt pulled away.
\nSlowly.
\nWesley watched until it disappeared.
\n\u201cWe need to move.\u201d
\nWe climbed into my old Honda.
\nI placed Nolan\u2019s solar system carefully across his lap.
\n\u201cDon\u2019t drop it.\u201d
\nHe looked insulted.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s worth more than my life now.\u201d
\nFor the first time in what felt like hours, I laughed.
\nA real laugh.
\nIt lasted two seconds.
\nThen Wesley\u2019s phone rang.
\nUnknown number.
\nHe looked at me.
\nI looked at him.
\n\u201cAnswer it.\u201d
\nHe did.
\n\u201cHello?\u201d
\nSilence.
\nThen his expression changed.
\n\u201cWho is this?\u201d
\nI couldn\u2019t hear the voice.
\nWesley put the call on speaker.
\nAn older woman spoke.
\n\u201cIs this Wesley Grant?\u201d
\nWesley\u2019s face drained.
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cMy name is Elaine Cole.\u201d
\nNobody breathed.
\nMarcus Cole\u2019s mother.
\nWesley gripped the phone.
\n\u201cHow did you get this number?\u201d
\n\u201cI\u2019ve been trying to find you for weeks.\u201d
\n\u201cWhy?\u201d
\n\u201cBecause Marcus left instructions.\u201d
\nWesley\u2019s voice cracked.
\n\u201cMarcus is alive?\u201d
\nThere was a pause.
\nToo long.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nWesley closed his eyes.
\nElaine continued.
\n\u201cMy son died four months ago.\u201d
\nI covered my mouth.
\n\u201cHe wasn\u2019t missing?\u201d
\n\u201cHe was hiding.\u201d
\n\u201cFrom Barlow?\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\nWesley leaned against my car.
\n\u201cWhere?\u201d
\n\u201cArizona. Then New Mexico. He changed his name.\u201d
\n\u201cWhy didn\u2019t he contact me?\u201d
\n\u201cHe was afraid.\u201d
\n\u201cOf what?\u201d
\n\u201cOf what would happen if Barlow knew he still had evidence.\u201d
\nMy eyes moved toward the cardboard solar system.
\nWesley did the same.
\nElaine\u2019s voice trembled.
\n\u201cBefore Marcus died, he gave me a letter.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat did it say?\u201d
\n\u201cThat if Thomas Barlow ever began looking for the River Street files, I should find you.\u201d
\n\u201cWhy me?\u201d
\n\u201cBecause Marcus trusted you.\u201d
\nWesley looked crushed.
\n\u201cHe never told me.\u201d
\n\u201cHe thought silence would keep you alive.\u201d
\nThe words hit all of us.
\nEven Nolan stopped fidgeting.
\nElaine continued.
\n\u201cWesley, did you find the files?\u201d
\nHe looked at me.
\nI nodded.
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\nElaine inhaled sharply.
\n\u201cWhere?\u201d
\n\u201cSafe.\u201d
\n\u201cDo not tell me.\u201d
\nWesley frowned.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cDo not say where they are over the phone.\u201d
\nThe cold suddenly felt sharper.
\n\u201cElaine, what exactly is in those papers?\u201d
\nA pause.
\nThen she said, \u201cEnough to prove the collapse was deliberate negligence.\u201d
\nWesley closed his eyes.
\n\u201cBut that isn\u2019t the reason Barlow is terrified.\u201d
\nMy heart seemed to stop.
\n\u201cWhat else is there?\u201d I asked before I could stop myself.
\nElaine went quiet.
\n\u201cWho is that?\u201d
\n\u201cMy friend.\u201d
\nI almost corrected the word.
\nI didn\u2019t.
\nElaine continued.
\n\u201cThere was something else hidden with the inspection reports.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cA notebook.\u201d
\nWesley looked at me.
\nWe had seen no notebook.
\n\u201cWhat notebook?\u201d
\n\u201cMarcus kept records.\u201d
\n\u201cOf what?\u201d
\n\u201cPayments.\u201d
\nWesley frowned.
\n\u201cWhat payments?\u201d
\n\u201cCash payments Barlow made to inspectors, subcontractors, and one city official.\u201d
\nMy stomach twisted.
\nElaine lowered her voice.
\n\u201cAnd one payment made three days after the River Street collapse.\u201d
\n\u201cTo who?\u201d
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat was it for?\u201d
\n\u201cThe entry only says two words.\u201d
\nWesley gripped the phone.
\n\u201cWhat words?\u201d
\nElaine answered.
\n\u201cCole problem.\u201d
\nEveryone went silent.
\nWesley stared into the darkness.
\nElaine whispered, \u201cMarcus believed Barlow paid someone to make him disappear.\u201d
\nMy skin turned cold.
\n\u201cBut Marcus escaped,\u201d Wesley said.
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cThen whoever was paid failed.\u201d
\nElaine didn\u2019t answer.
\n\u201cElaine?\u201d
\nHer voice came back softer.
\n\u201cNo, Wesley.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cThe payment happened before Marcus ran.\u201d
\nMy stomach dropped.
\n\u201cI don\u2019t understand.\u201d
\n\u201cMarcus said the person Barlow paid wasn\u2019t hired to find him.\u201d
\nWesley stopped breathing.
\n\u201cThen what were they hired to do?\u201d
\nElaine\u2019s answer came slowly.
\n\u201cTo kill you.\u201d
\nNolan gasped.
\nI reached for Wesley\u2019s arm.
\nHis face had gone completely white.
\nThen every light in our apartment building went out.
\nAll three floors.
\nInstantly.
\nDark.
\nDerek turned toward the entrance.
\n\u201cThat\u2019s not normal.\u201d
\nAcross the street, the dark sedan reappeared.
\nIt stopped.
\nTwo doors opened.
\nAnd two men stepped out.
\nElaine\u2019s voice crackled from Wesley\u2019s phone.
\n\u201cWesley?\u201d
\nHe stared at the men.
\n\u201cElaine.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cI think Barlow just found us.\u201d\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n