Chapter 5
I stared at Evelyn.
"What do you mean I've been helping your investigators?"
She looked exhausted.
But her eyes were clear.
"Three weeks ago, you reported missing files from the housekeeping office."
I nodded slowly.
I remembered.
Several folders had disappeared from a locked cabinet.
They contained vendor receipts, staff schedules, and cleaning supply invoices.
I reported it because the department had been accused of wasting money.
I wanted to prove the supplies had been ordered correctly.
Evelyn continued.
"Your complaint reached my office."
I frowned.
"How?"
"Through the hotel's employee reporting system."
I swallowed.
"I didn't know you personally reviewed those."
She smiled faintly.
"I don't review all of them."
Then her expression became serious.
"But the missing records matched discrepancies my accountants had already identified."
My stomach tightened.
"What discrepancies?"
"Fake vendor payments."
I stared at her.
She continued.
"Vanessa's network used hotel service contracts to move money."
I felt sick.
"Housekeeping contracts?"
Evelyn nodded.
"Some of them."
I remembered Daniel approving unusually expensive supply orders.
I remembered invoices that didn't match deliveries.
I remembered being told to stop asking questions.
My chest tightened.
"Daniel knew."
Evelyn looked sad.
"I believe he did."
Marcus leaned forward.
"Mom, why didn't you tell Nia?"
Evelyn looked at me.
"Because I didn't want to put her in danger."
I almost laughed.
Too late.
I had already been threatened.
My sister had been sent away for safety.
My supervisor had disappeared.
And the woman who tried to kill Evelyn knew my face.
I took a breath.
"What exactly did I uncover?"
Evelyn reached toward Marcus.
"Call my attorney."
He nodded.
Within an hour, a woman named Angela Brooks arrived at the hospital.
She was in her early fifties, with short natural hair and a calm, professional manner.
She carried a thick leather folder.
After introducing herself, she looked at me.
"Ms. Carter, Evelyn tells me you submitted a report about missing housekeeping records."
I nodded.
Angela opened the folder.
"Your report identified several invoice numbers that were later connected to suspicious transactions."
My stomach tightened.
"How much money?"
"Several million dollars in questionable payments."
I covered my mouth.
I had thought someone was stealing cleaning supplies.
Instead, the invoices were connected to a much larger scheme.
Angela continued.
"The investigators traced payments through multiple companies."
Marcus leaned forward.
"Connected to Vanessa?"
Angela nodded.
"Some appear to be."
I looked at her.
"What about Daniel?"
She sighed.
"He approved several of the vendor records."
I felt betrayed all over again.
Daniel had threatened to fire me twice for questioning expenses.
Once, he made me stay late without overtime because I supposedly filed a report incorrectly.
Now I understood why.
He didn't want me looking closely.
I looked at Angela.
"Am I in trouble?"
She shook her head.
"Not for reporting concerns in good faith."
I exhaled.
"But you may be an important witness."
My stomach tightened.
I glanced toward Evelyn.
She was watching me carefully.
I realized she understood what this meant.
My life might become more dangerous before it became safer.
Then Angela asked something unexpected.
"Ms. Carter, do you still have copies of your original reports?"
I nodded.
"On my personal laptop."
Her expression changed.
"That's important."
I swallowed.
"Why?"
"Because some records in the hotel's internal system have been altered or removed."
I felt cold.
I had kept copies because Daniel repeatedly claimed I made mistakes.
I wanted proof.
I never imagined those files could matter to a criminal investigation.
Angela asked whether I would be willing to preserve and provide the records through the proper process.
I agreed.
But then I remembered my sister.
"Lily."
Marcus turned.
"What?"
"My sister. She's nineteen. She lives with me."
His expression tightened.
"Is she safe?"
"She's staying with our aunt."
He nodded.
"Good."
Angela advised me to tell Detective Walker about Lily's location and any threats.
I agreed.
The detective arranged additional safety guidance.
I felt relieved.
But I couldn't stop worrying.
Lily was all the family I had left.
Our mother died when I was eighteen.
Our father had never been part of our lives.
I had worked two jobs to keep us together.
Lily was studying to become a teacher.
She was smart.
Kind.
And far too trusting.
If anything happened to her because of me, I didn't know how I'd survive it.
Marcus noticed my expression.
"What's wrong?"
I looked at him.
"I'm scared."
He nodded.
"I know."
I swallowed.
"I can't afford to lose my job."
He looked surprised.
"After what happened, you're worried about work?"
I laughed bitterly.
"Rent doesn't stop because someone tries to kill a billionaire."
He went silent.
I immediately regretted how sharp I sounded.
"I'm sorry."
He shook his head.
"Don't apologize."
I looked down.
"I need the paycheck."
Marcus took a slow breath.
"Then we'll make sure you're not punished for helping."
I stared at him.
He continued.
"My mother owns the hotel. She can ensure your employment rights are respected while the investigation proceeds."
I felt uncomfortable.
"I don't want special treatment."
He nodded.
"Then you won't get it. You'll get the protection you should have had all along."
Something in my chest softened.
He wasn't offering charity.
He was recognizing that I deserved fair treatment.
That mattered.
Later that evening, Detective Walker returned.
She had news.
Daniel had been located.
He was alive.
But he had been found injured in a parking garage outside the city.
My stomach dropped.
"What happened?"
She spoke carefully.
"He reported being attacked by unknown individuals."
I covered my mouth.
"Is he okay?"
"He's receiving medical care."
I felt a strange mixture of anger and relief.
Daniel had betrayed Evelyn.
Possibly helped Vanessa.
And threatened me.
But I didn't want him dead.
Detective Walker continued.
"He has agreed to speak with investigators."
Marcus leaned forward.
"About Vanessa?"
She nodded.
"Among other things."
I felt hope rise.
Maybe Daniel would finally tell the truth.
Then the detective looked directly at me.
"Ms. Carter, there's something you should know."
My stomach tightened.
"What?"
"Daniel says the anonymous emergency message you received before the rooftop incident was sent by him."
I froze.
"Daniel?"
She nodded.
"He claims he was trying to warn you."
I stared at her.
"Then why did he hand Vanessa the envelope?"
Detective Walker hesitated.
"That's one of the questions we're investigating."
I felt cold.
Then she continued.
"According to Daniel, the envelope contained documents Vanessa wanted destroyed."
Marcus frowned.
"But Nia recorded him giving it to her."
"Yes."
The detective nodded.
"And Daniel claims he gave her copies while keeping the originals somewhere safe."
My heart pounded.
"Where?"
Detective Walker looked at me.
Then said something that made my blood run cold.
"He says the originals are hidden in a housekeeping storage locker."
I stopped breathing.
Because I knew exactly which locker he meant.
May you like
It was the one assigned to me.
And I had been using it every day.
