Chapter 7 - BESS’S PROMISE
Bess led us downstairs.
Past the wine cellar.
Past the boiler room.
Behind a wooden panel I had assumed was part of the wall.
There was a narrow storage chamber.
Inside sat a metal lockbox.
The brass key opened it.
Bess began crying before the lid came up.
“I promised him.”
My throat tightened.
“My father?”
She nodded.
“He came back six months after he was fired.”
“He looked sick.”
“He knew someone was watching him.”
“Victor?”
“I don’t know.”
Inside the box were envelopes.
Photographs.
A cassette tape.
And a sealed statement.
My father’s signature was across the flap.
TO LAURA.
I stopped breathing.
My name.
Written twenty years ago.
Bess touched my arm.
“He told me if you ever came here asking questions, I should give you this.”
I looked at her.
“He knew I would come?”
“He hoped you never would.”
The envelope trembled in my hand.
Inside was a letter.
Laura,
If you are reading this, then I failed to keep this away from you.
I am sorry.
I wanted you to have a life untouched by these people.
I copied the Pier Nine records because three men died for a schedule.
Not for fate.
Not for bad luck.
For money.
Victor Sloane ordered the unsafe equipment kept running.
Garrett Harwick Sr. knew enough to stop him and chose not to.
When I refused to stay quiet, they made sure no company would hire me again.
If you ever learn this, do not waste your life hating them.
Make them answer.
There is a difference.
My eyes blurred.
I had spent years hating.
My father had known.
He didn’t want that for me.
The cassette contained a recorded conversation.
Victor’s voice.
My father’s.
And Garrett Harwick Sr.
The tape crackled.
My father said.
“Three men are dead.”
Victor answered.
“And how many thousands still have jobs?”
My father shouted.
“That’s your excuse?”
Garrett Sr. interrupted.
“Thomas, take the settlement.”
“I don’t want your money.”
“Then take your family and go.”
“You’re threatening me.”
“I’m warning you.”
Then Victor’s voice came.
“Your daughter is what, sixteen?”
My entire body went cold.
My father said.
“Leave Laura out of this.”
Victor laughed.
“Then be a father.”
The tape ended.
Nobody moved.
Garrett looked at Victor.
Victor no longer smiled.
“You threatened a child.”
Victor replied.
“It was twenty years ago.”
Garrett’s face hardened.
“That was not the answer.”
Sirens sounded outside.
The sheriff had arrived.
Victor looked toward Celeste.
Something passed between them.
Not fear.
Instruction.
Then Celeste suddenly grabbed a letter opener from the desk.
Addie screamed.
Security moved.
May you like
But Celeste wasn’t aiming at me.
She lunged for the documents.
