Chapter 6 - THE STORAGE UNIT
Unit 47 stood at the end of a row of rusted metal doors.
The storage facility had once belonged to South River Freight.
Now it was nearly abandoned.
Investigators obtained access through the proper legal process after identifying the unit in Nathan's records.
Alessandro waited outside with Gabriel.
Elena stood beside Detective Shaw.
She had insisted on coming.
Inside were three metal filing cabinets.
A desk.
Several boxes.
And an old computer.
The room smelled of dust and damp cardboard.
Detective Shaw photographed everything before the forensic team began examining the contents.
One cabinet contained invoices.
Another held shipping records.
The third was locked.
Investigators opened it.
Inside was a folder marked:
MORETTI TRANSPORT — INTERNAL.
Elena stared at the name.
Alessandro's expression darkened.
The documents showed that Victor had been using Moretti-owned businesses to move illegal shipments through legitimate freight routes.
He had altered records.
Manipulated security logs.
And paid several employees to remain silent.
Nathan discovered the pattern.
He began collecting evidence.
Then he tried to report it.
A small envelope lay beneath the folder.
Inside was a photograph.
Nathan Moreland standing beside Victor Salvatore.
The two men appeared to be arguing outside the freight terminal.
On the back, Nathan had written:
IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME, ASK WHY VICTOR WAS THERE.
Elena covered her mouth.
Detective Shaw turned toward Alessandro.
“Did you know about these shipments?”
Alessandro looked at the documents.
“I knew parts of my organization operated outside the law.”
Shaw waited.
He continued.
“I did not authorize this particular operation.”
She studied him.
“That distinction matters legally. We'll need records, not assurances.”
Alessandro nodded.
“You'll have them.”
Elena looked at him.
“You're going to cooperate?”
“Yes.”
“Even if it exposes your own crimes?”
Alessandro hesitated.
Then looked at Sophia, who was waiting safely with Marisol elsewhere.
“Yes.”
Elena stared.
For the first time, she saw something different in him.
Not fear.
Not power.
Responsibility.
That evening, Gabriel received a message.
The forensic team had recovered deleted files from the old computer.
One contained a video recording.
Nathan Moreland appeared on screen.
His face was pale.
His voice trembled.
“If you're watching this,” he said, “then Victor Salvatore has already found out what I know.”
Elena began crying.
May you like
Nathan continued.
“And if I'm dead, it wasn't an accident.”
