Chapter 9 - Smoke
The alarm changed everything.
People rushed toward the exits.
Smoke appeared near the executive corridor.
"Emily, stay with Rebecca."
I moved toward the hallway.
Marcus followed.
"Dad's records."
"I know."
We reached the office.
Smoke rolled beneath the door.
Security arrived with extinguishers.
The fire suppression system activated.
Water exploded from the ceiling.
Within minutes, the flames were contained.
The damage looked bad.
But Derek had made another mistake.
The important files weren't there.
Dad had moved the originals months earlier.
What Derek's man had burned were copies.
Security caught him in the parking garage.
His name was Nolan Pierce.
Derek's personal assistant.
Police brought him back upstairs.
Derek saw him.
Nolan saw Derek.
Neither spoke.
Then Nolan shouted—
"You said nobody would get hurt!"
The entire hallway froze.
Derek stepped backward.
"I don't know what he's talking about."
Nolan laughed bitterly.
"You told me to burn the records!"
"He's lying!"
"You promised me fifty grand!"
Derek lunged toward him.
Security stopped him.
Nolan kept shouting.
"You said Vane would protect us!"
Charles Vane was already gone.
I looked at Marcus.
"Find him."
"We're trying."
Then my phone rang.
Mom.
I answered.
"Daniel."
Her voice was terrified.
"Mom?"
"Someone came into your father's hospital room."
My blood went cold.
"Who?"
"I don't know."
"Where's Dad?"
"Daniel..."
May you like
She began crying.
"He's gone."
