Chapter 7 - THE KEY TO WAREHOUSE NINETEEN
The brass key opened a locker at an old freight terminal.
Warehouse Nineteen.
The same building where Thomas Bennett died.
Roman had sold the property years earlier.
But the terminal remained operational under a subsidiary connected to Anthony Caruso.
Gabriel arranged for an independent investigator and legal counsel to accompany them.
Inside the locker were photographs, shipping manifests, inspection reports, and a sealed envelope.
Adeline stood beside Roman as the investigator opened it.
The documents showed that Thomas had discovered falsified safety inspections and illegal shipments moving through the warehouse.
The equipment failures were not random.
They were part of a pattern.
A scaffold had been deliberately weakened before Thomas's final inspection.
The documents also suggested that Anthony Caruso had benefited financially from the operation.
Adeline stared at the papers.
Her hands began shaking.
“My father knew.”
Roman nodded.
“He was trying to expose them.”
She covered her mouth.
For seven years, she'd imagined her father slipping.
Making a mistake.
Missing a broken bolt.
Now she was learning that he had died because he refused to ignore wrongdoing.
Tears slipped down her cheeks.
Roman stepped closer.
“Adeline.”
She shook her head.
“He was careful.”
“I know.”
“He always checked everything.”
Roman's voice softened.
“I believe you.”
She looked at him.
Then whispered:
“They killed him.”
Roman didn't answer immediately.
The evidence strongly suggested deliberate sabotage, but investigators still needed to establish responsibility.
Finally, he said:
“We have enough to reopen the case.”
Adeline stared at the documents.
Then looked toward the old warehouse doors.
For seven years, she'd carried grief.
Now she carried something else.
May you like
The truth.
And it was heavier than she'd imagined.
