Chapter 10: The Flash Drive
Chapter 10: The Flash Drive
Nathan stepped off the porch and pulled the screen door shut behind him.
Inside, he could see June standing in the hallway with Emily, both watching through the front window.
He gave them a small shake of his head.
Stay inside.
The six men spread out across the front yard, moving with practiced precision.
None of them appeared nervous.
The man in the center wore a charcoal suit despite the summer heat.
His silver hair was neatly combed, and his polished shoes barely collected dust on the gravel driveway.
He smiled.
"Mr. Reed."
"Nathan."
"My employer believes you have something that belongs to him."
Nathan folded his arms.
"I don't believe I do."
The man chuckled.
"The flash drive."
"I don't have it."
That wasn't entirely true.
The original flash drive was already locked in the sheriff's evidence room.
Nathan had only a copy, stored in a secure cloud account his attorney in Alaska could access.
The suited man tilted his head.
"You're making this more difficult than it needs to be."
Nathan didn't answer.
"We're prepared to pay."
"I'm not interested."
The man's smile faded.
"Then perhaps you'll be interested in the alternative."
Nathan noticed two of the men quietly moving toward the sides of the house.
His voice hardened.
"Take one more step toward that house, and you'll regret it."
The men stopped.
The suited man studied Nathan carefully.
"You don't seem frightened."
"I've worked through Arctic winters."
Nathan's expression never changed.
"I've faced blizzards that could kill a man in minutes."
He looked each of the six men in the eyes.
"You don't scare me."
For the first time, the suited man looked uncertain.
A pair of headlights suddenly appeared at the end of the driveway.
Deputy Collins' patrol SUV rolled to a stop behind the black SUVs.
Another patrol car followed.
Then another.
Collins stepped out, resting one hand on his duty belt.
"Evening, gentlemen."
The suited man turned slowly.
"Deputy."
"We've had reports of trespassing."
"We're simply having a conversation."
Collins glanced at Nathan.
"Did you invite them?"
Nathan answered with one word.
"No."
Collins nodded.
"You heard the man."
The suited stranger smiled politely.
"We're leaving."
One by one, the six men climbed back into the SUVs.
Before closing his door, the suited man looked at Nathan.
"This isn't over."
Nathan met his gaze.
"I know."
The convoy disappeared into the night.
Collins waited until the vehicles were gone.
"You alright?"
Nathan nodded.
"They wanted the flash drive."
"I figured."
Collins lowered his voice.
"You should know something."
"What?"
"The district attorney listened to the recordings."
"And?"
"He authorized arrest warrants."
Nathan let out a slow breath.
"For Carl?"
"Carl."
"Holloway?"
"Yes."
"Dr. Evans?"
Collins smiled.
"All three."
Nathan looked toward the dark road.
"They're going to run."
"We're already watching them."
The following morning, the sheriff's department executed the warrants.
Nathan and Emily waited outside the courthouse as deputies drove toward Carl's mansion.
An hour later Collins called.
"Nathan..."
His tone said everything.
"They're gone."
Nathan wasn't surprised.
"When?"
"Probably before dawn."
"They knew."
Collins nodded.
"Someone tipped them off."
Nathan looked toward the courthouse.
"So we've got another leak."
"It appears so."
The search warrant still allowed deputies to enter the mansion.
Nathan accompanied Collins through the front door.
The luxurious home felt strangely empty.
Furniture remained.
Televisions.
Paintings.
But every computer was gone.
Every filing cabinet had been emptied.
The office safe stood open.
"They cleaned it out," Collins muttered.
Nathan slowly walked through the downstairs study.
On the desk sat a single framed photograph.
Carl.
Denise.
Their teenage son, Luke.
Nathan frowned.
"Luke."
Collins looked over.
"What about him?"
"He wasn't involved."
"As far as we know."
Nathan remembered the quiet fourteen-year-old boy who used to follow him around the farm whenever Nathan came home on vacation.
Kind.
Polite.
Always uncomfortable around his father's temper.
"Where is he?"
Collins checked the report.
"Not with Carl."
Nathan looked up.
"What?"
"Neighbors say Carl and Denise left before sunrise."
"And Luke?"
"They haven't seen him."
Upstairs, Nathan entered Carl's former office.
Bookshelves lined the walls.
Most of the shelves were empty.
One book remained.
A worn Bible.
Nathan picked it up.
Something felt unusual.
The pages had been cut out.
Inside the hollowed center rested a folded piece of paper.
Nathan unfolded it carefully.
It wasn't addressed to Carl.
It was addressed to him.
Nathan,
If you're reading this, Dad finally ran.
Nathan frowned.
The handwriting wasn't Carl's.
It belonged to Luke.
He continued reading.
I don't know who to trust anymore.
Grandma never belonged in that shed.
Nathan's chest tightened.
Luke had known.
I copied something before Dad destroyed it.
Meet me at Miller's Bridge tonight. Come alone.
Don't tell the police.
Nathan folded the note.
Collins looked at him.
"What is it?"
Nathan hesitated.
If Luke truly had evidence...
Telling too many people might put the boy in danger.
"It's from Luke."
Collins frowned.
"What does he want?"
"To help."
That afternoon, Nathan visited June at Emily's house.
She was stronger now.
Color had returned to her face, and she had begun walking short distances without assistance.
Nathan handed her the note.
She read it slowly.
Then smiled.
"Luke always had a good heart."
"I hope you're right."
"He used to sneak food to me."
Nathan looked up sharply.
"What?"
She nodded.
"When Carl wasn't home."
Nathan sat down beside her.
"You never told me."
"I didn't want him getting into trouble."
Nathan suddenly understood.
Luke hadn't been silent because he approved of what his parents were doing.
He had been trying to protect his grandmother in the only ways a frightened teenager could.
As sunset approached, Nathan drove alone toward Miller's Bridge.
The old steel bridge crossed the eastern creek less than two miles from Parcel Seven.
He parked beneath a cottonwood tree and waited.
Ten minutes passed.
Then fifteen.
Finally, footsteps echoed across the bridge.
Luke appeared carrying a backpack.
He looked exhausted.
Dark circles surrounded his eyes.
"You came."
Nathan nodded.
"You asked me to."
Luke looked over both shoulders before stepping closer.
"I'm sorry."
Nathan frowned.
"For what?"
"For not stopping them."
"You were a kid."
"I should've told someone."
Nathan placed a hand on his shoulder.
"You're here now."
Luke slowly removed a manila envelope from his backpack.
"I found this in Dad's office."
Nathan opened it.
Inside were copies of emails between Carl and Richard Holloway.
Most discussed money.
Then one message caught his attention.
Destroy the original survey before Nathan returns.
Another read:
The bunker cannot be discovered until the state contract is finalized.
Nathan's eyes widened.
The bunker.
It was real.
Luke pointed to the last page.
"I think this is the important one."
Nathan turned it over.
It was a payment ledger.
One entry had been highlighted.
$250,000
Recipient:
Judge Alan Mercer
Nathan stared.
"The judge handling Grandma's guardianship hearing."
Luke nodded.
"Dad said once the judge signed the order..."
His voice shook.
"...everything would belong to them."
Nathan slowly lowered the papers.
The corruption reached farther than he had imagined.
Not just Carl.
Not just Holloway.
Not just Dr. Evans.
Now...
A judge's name sat on the list.
Before Nathan could speak, a single gunshot shattered the quiet evening.
The bullet struck the steel railing inches from Luke's head.
Both of them dove behind the bridge supports as a second shot echoed across the creek.
May you like
Someone had followed Luke.
And they weren't coming to negotiate.
