Chapter 11 - The Break-In
Nothing appeared stolen.
That frightened Emily more.
The intruder had bypassed two alarm systems.
Entered the restricted research wing.
Opened exactly one secured cabinet.
Then left.
Ryan walked beside Emily through the laboratory at midnight.
Police officers photographed the damaged lock.
Her security director, Marcus Lee, handed her a tablet.
“They accessed the Meridian archives.”
Ryan’s expression changed.
“The files James sent?”
Emily nodded.
“Copies of them.”
Marcus continued.
“The strange part is they didn’t delete anything.”
Ryan understood first.
“They were checking what she had.”
Marcus looked at him.
“Exactly.”
Emily crossed her arms.
“So Adrian knows.”
“Maybe.”
Ryan looked around.
“Cameras?”
Marcus shook his head.
“Looped for six minutes.”
“That takes expertise.”
“Or internal credentials.”
Emily felt sick.
Harrison Energy had helped install the cybersecurity platform her company used during its first year.
Adrian could know parts of the architecture.
Marcus lowered his voice.
“There’s something else.”
He showed Emily a still image from a camera across the street.
A black sedan was parked near the rear entrance.
The license plate was blurred.
But the passenger stepping out was visible.
Ryan stared.
“That’s Melissa Grant.”
Adrian’s former assistant.
The woman who had signed for Emily’s pregnancy letter.
Emily felt five years collapse into one photograph.
“Find her.”
Ryan looked at Marcus.
Marcus bristled.
“You don’t give orders here.”
Ryan immediately backed down.
“You’re right.”
Emily noticed.
Five years ago, Ryan would have doubled down.
Now he simply turned to her.
“Please find her.”
Emily nodded to Marcus.
“Do it.”
The next morning, Melissa was gone.
Her apartment had been emptied.
Her phone disconnected.
Her bank account closed.
Adrian attended Harrison Energy’s board meeting as if nothing had happened.
Ryan joined remotely.
“Rough night?” Adrian asked.
Ryan smiled.
“Not particularly.”
Adrian leaned back.
“You’ve been distracted since Chicago.”
“Family issue.”
Adrian’s eyes sharpened.
“What family issue?”
Ryan kept his face blank.
“Nothing you need to worry about.”
Adrian smiled.
But Ryan saw it.
Fear.
After the meeting, David called.
“We found something.”
“What?”
“Adrian booked a private flight.”
Ryan stood.
“Where?”
“Zurich.”
“When?”
“Tomorrow night.”
Ryan’s eyes narrowed.
Adrian was preparing to run.
But before Ryan could respond, David added something worse.
“There are four passengers listed.”
“Who?”
“Adrian.”
“Melissa Grant.”
“A financial attorney named Peter Sloan.”
Ryan waited.
“And?”
David went silent.
“The fourth passenger is Emily Parker.”
Ryan felt ice move through his veins.
“That’s impossible.”
“Her passport number is on the manifest.”
Ryan stared toward the window.
Emily was being framed.
May you like
Again.
And this time, Adrian was preparing evidence that could make it look as if she were running with him.
