Chapter 5 - Evidence Locker 217

The courthouse archive opened at eight.

Beatrice still knew everyone.

Or everyone knew her.

Locker 217 was in the basement.

Old steel.

Dust.

No cameras inside.

Beatrice inserted the key.

The door opened.

One box.

No label.

Christian carried it to a table.

Inside:

A cassette tape.

Photographs.

One envelope.

And a court exhibit tag.

Thomas stared.

“I never saw this.”

Beatrice nodded.

“Martin removed it before the hearing.”

Christian looked at her.

“And paid you to hide it.”

“Yes.”

“Why did you agree?”

Beatrice looked ashamed.

“Because he told me Shaw would kill Lillian.”

Christian stared.

“And you believed him.”

“Yes.”

“Was he right?”

Beatrice looked down.

“Probably.”

Christian laughed bitterly.

“Everyone’s favorite defense.”

Thomas picked up the cassette.

“My voice.”

Christian frowned.

“What?”

The label:

THOMAS VALE — SUPPLEMENTAL STATEMENT.

Beatrice found an old player.

The tape began.

Thomas’s younger voice.

“If Martin Reed refuses to name Judge Reed, the case is compromised.”

Christian looked at his father.

Thomas closed his eyes.

The tape continued.

“Lillian Reed gave me the ledger herself.”

Christian stopped.

He looked at Beatrice.

“Lillian gave it to Dad.”

“Yes.”

The tape continued.

“She says Martin does not know she copied it.”

Christian frowned.

Thomas whispered:

“I forgot that.”

Then younger Thomas:

“She also says Edmund Shaw has another prosecutor on his payroll.”

Silence.

Christian stared.

“Another prosecutor.”

The tape continued.

“I do not know the name.”

A pause.

“But Martin does.”

Christian’s jaw tightened.

Beatrice looked pale.

The tape ended.

Christian turned.

“Who was the other prosecutor?”

Beatrice shook her head.

“I never knew.”

Thomas frowned.

“Martin knew.”

Christian’s phone rang.

Alessandra.

He stared at it.

Then answered.

“What?”

Her voice was shaken.

“My father is gone.”

Christian stood.

“What do you mean?”

“He left the hotel.”

“Where?”

“I do not know.”

Then:

“My mother is gone too.”

Christian looked at Thomas.

“Lillian.”

Beatrice whispered:

“Shaw.”

Christian asked:

“Did they leave together?”

Alessandra answered:

“No.”

“How do you know?”

“Mom left a note.”

“What does it say?”

Alessandra read:

MARTIN IS GOING TO FIX WHAT HE BURIED.

I AM GOING TO STOP HIM FROM DOING IT ALONE.

Christian closed his eyes.

“Where would they go?”

Silence.

Then Alessandra:

“The old courthouse annex.”

Beatrice went pale.

“That is where the original grand jury met.”

Thomas looked at her.

“Shaw knows that place.”

Christian grabbed the evidence box.

They left.

The annex had been closed for twelve years.

Windows boarded.

Side door open.

Christian entered.

Thomas behind him.

Beatrice stayed outside with security.

Downstairs, voices.

Martin.

Lillian.

And another man.

Edmund Shaw.

Christian stopped at the stairwell.

Shaw said:

“You should have let it stay buried.”

Martin answered:

“I did.”

Then:

“And it destroyed all of us.”

Christian stepped into the room.

Everyone turned.

Alessandra’s mother began crying.

Martin looked exhausted.

Shaw smiled.

“Thomas’s boy.”

Thomas appeared behind Christian.

Shaw’s smile disappeared.

“You.”

Thomas stared.

“Me.”

Christian looked at Martin.

“Who was the second prosecutor?”

Martin closed his eyes.

Shaw laughed.

“Still asking the right question too late.”

Christian’s voice hardened.

“Name.”

Martin looked at Lillian.

Then Christian.

“Your mother.”

May you like

[COMPLETED] “GET YOUR HANDS OFF MY DRESS! YOU’RE NOTHING BUT AN OLD SEAM...

[COMPLETED] At the Mafia Boss's Engagement Party, I Served His Hungry So...

[COMPLETED] The Mafia Boss’s Fiancée Tried to Dismiss His Father’s Loyal...

Silence.

Christian stopped breathing.