Empty.
Except one envelope.
VICTORIA.
Her hands trembled when she opened it.
Inside was a single key.
And a note.
If you found this, Gregory moved too soon.
Taylor read over her shoulder.
Victoria whispered:
“My father knew.”
Dana photographed the note.
The key belonged to a safe-deposit box.
Bank in Washington.
Federal agents secured it before midnight.
The box contained no drive.
It contained cassette tapes.
Eleven.
Taylor stared.
Victoria almost laughed.
“My father recorded everything.”
Dana looked toward her.
“Why?”
“Paranoia.”
Sometimes paranoia preserves truth.
They digitized the recordings.
Tape four changed everything.
Richard Hawthorne’s voice.
Gregory Pierce’s.
Dated three days before Megan vanished.
Richard:
“She has copies?”
Gregory:
“We believe so.”
Richard:
“Then buy her.”
Gregory:
“She won’t sell.”
Richard:
“Everybody sells.”
Gregory:
“Not this one.”
Pause.
Richard:
“She has a child.”
Taylor stopped the recording.
His entire body went cold.
Dana asked softly:
“Continue?”
Taylor nodded.
Tape resumed.
Gregory:
“I’m aware.”
Richard:
“Don’t touch the family.”
Gregory:
“I wasn’t suggesting that.”
Richard:
“You were thinking it.”
Long silence.
Richard:
“I want her frightened, not dead.”
Taylor covered his mouth.
Victoria cried silently.
The tape continued.
Gregory:
“If she goes federal?”
Richard:
“Then we lose Meridian.”
Gregory:
“And the contract.”
Richard:
“And maybe the company.”
Gregory:
“I can arrange for her to disappear.”
Richard:
“Meaning?”
Pause.
Gregory:
“Give her a reason to leave.”
Richard:
“No bodies.”
Gregory:
“Understood.”
Tape ended.
Taylor stood so fast the chair fell.
“No bodies.”
Dana remained still.
Taylor looked toward Victoria.
“Your father knew.”
“Yes.”
“He knew they threatened Sophie.”
Victoria looked sick.
“Yes.”
Taylor walked out.
He needed air.
Outside, night covered the estate.
He stood beside a stone terrace.
Victoria followed several minutes later.
“Taylor.”
“Don’t.”
She stopped.
He stared into darkness.
“Your father told Gregory not to kill her like that makes him decent.”
Victoria said nothing.
“He agreed to destroy my family.”
“Yes.”
“I work for the company that paid him.”
“I know.”
Taylor turned.
“I have spent three years fixing buildings for people who destroyed my life.”
Victoria’s eyes filled.
“I know.”