CHAPTER 6: The Secret Inside the Warehouse
CHAPTER 6: The Secret Inside the Warehouse
Night settled over Ridgeview beneath a sky heavy with snow clouds.
A black SUV rolled silently toward the abandoned Franklin Steel Warehouse.
Ethan sat in the passenger seat.
Caleb drove without headlights for the final stretch.
Victor remained in the back seat, checking the small body cameras clipped beneath their jackets.
"No heroics," Victor warned.
"We observe."
"We record."
"We leave."
Ethan gave a short nod.
He intended to do exactly that.
At least, that was the plan.
Inside the warehouse...
Brooke paced impatiently.
Ryan leaned against the table.
A second man entered through the rear door.
Expensive overcoat.
Italian shoes.
Gray hair.
Ethan's breath caught as he watched through the warehouse window.
He knew that face.
Richard Ashcroft.
The Chief Financial Officer of Hale Harbor Group.
The man Ethan had trusted for nearly twelve years.
Victor whispered,
"Oh, my God..."
Richard removed leather gloves.
"I assume this meeting is important."
Ryan answered first.
"It should've been over already."
Richard looked at Brooke.
"Did Ethan sign the revised investment authorization before the accident?"
Brooke nodded.
"Yes."
"And the trust amendments?"
"He signed those too."
Richard sighed.
"That complicates things."
Brooke frowned.
"I thought once he died everything transferred."
Richard laughed.
"No."
"The twins inherited controlling voting shares."
Brooke's face twisted with anger.
"Those babies again."
Richard calmly opened a folder.
"The original plan worked."
"The brake line failed."
"The vehicle went over the cliff."
He looked irritated.
"The only problem..."
"...was Ethan survived."
Outside the warehouse...
Ethan felt every muscle in his body go rigid.
Caleb grabbed his arm before he could burst through the door.
"Wait."
Inside...
Ryan spoke quietly.
"I told you we should've finished it at the hospital."
Richard glared at him.
"And explain that to investigators?"
Brooke crossed her arms.
"So what now?"
Richard smiled.
"We adapt."
"How?"
"We convince the court Ethan lacks mental capacity."
"And if he wakes up?"
Richard looked directly at Brooke.
"Then he has another accident."
Silence.
Even Ryan looked uneasy.
Brooke swallowed.
"You said one accident was enough."
Richard's voice became ice cold.
"I also said I don't lose companies worth billions."
Outside...
Victor's hands trembled as he recorded every word.
"This is enough," he whispered.
"We have conspiracy."
"We have motive."
"We have admission."
Caleb nodded.
"Let's call the police."
Ethan reached for his phone—
But before he could press a single button...
A sharp metallic click echoed behind them.
Someone had been watching the warehouse.
Watching the parking lot.
Watching them.
A cold voice spoke from the darkness.
"I wouldn't make that call if I were you."
Ethan slowly turned.
Three armed men stepped out from behind the trees.
One of them smiled.
May you like
"Mr. Hale..."
"We were told you were supposed to be dead."
