Chapter 5 - THE PARTNER IN THE PANTRY
David Cole had known Michael since college.
Together, they built Collins Freight Systems from one delivery van into a national logistics company.
David had been Michael’s best man.
He sat beside Laura’s bed during her final week.
He introduced Michael to the charity dinner where Rachel appeared.
The footage showed David entering the pantry at 1:12 a.m.
Rachel followed him.
Ava sat against the wall with her wrists tied to a pipe.
David crouched in front of her.
“Tell us where your mother’s journal is.”
Ava shook her head.
Rachel said,
“She will talk when she gets colder.”
David looked toward the cooling unit.
“Do not leave it too low.”
“We need her frightened, not dead.”
Michael stopped the recording.
Officer Ruiz watched him.
“Did you know they had a relationship?”
“No.”
“Could they be working together financially?”
“They have access to different parts of my company.”
“Rachel handles your household accounts.”
“David controls corporate investments.”
Michael understood the possibility.
Laura’s trust for Ava could be connected to the company.
He contacted the company’s chief accountant.
She reported that David had not arrived at work.
Several encrypted drives were missing from his office.
A company jet was scheduled to leave that afternoon.
The passenger list contained David Cole and Rachel Collins.
Michael stared at the screen.
“They planned to leave today.”
Officer Ruiz nodded.
“Your early return interrupted them.”
“Why lock Ava in the pantry if they were leaving?”
“They may have intended to take her with them.”
Another officer entered.
Police had searched Rachel’s car.
Baxter was found alive inside a pet boarding facility outside town.
He had been registered under a false name.
A suitcase in the trunk contained Ava’s clothes, passport, and medication.
There were also three airline tickets to Switzerland.
Rachel.
David.
Ava.
Michael looked toward his daughter.
They had planned to remove her from the country.
The hidden camera was not only for punishment.
It was for recording a confession.
Rachel and David needed Ava to reveal where the journal was before they left.
The journal could destroy whatever they planned to take.
Michael called airport security.
Rachel’s phone was still at the house.
David’s location remained unknown.
The private jet had not yet departed.
Police entered the hangar.
They found no passengers.
Only the pilot was there.
He had received instructions to fly empty to Montreal.
Rachel and David were creating a false trail.
Then Ava’s hospital tablet received a video call.
Rachel’s face appeared on the screen.
She stood inside a dark room.
May you like
“Tell your father to bring Laura’s journal to the old Collins warehouse.”
“Or he will never learn what really killed your mother.”
