Chapter 7 - THE WAREHOUSE WITHOUT WINDOWS
Victor Salcedo had built a network of private warehouses across New York and New Jersey.
Some stored legitimate goods.
Others concealed stolen shipments and falsified cargo records.
Miguel had discovered the scheme while repairing refrigeration units.
He'd found containers listed as carrying medical equipment that contained unrelated high-value goods.
He'd copied shipping records.
Then tried to report what he'd found.
Victor learned about it.
And arranged the bakery attack.
The man killed outside the bakery had been another contractor.
His documents had been used to support the false identification.
Miguel had been abducted.
Threatened.
Forced to work under surveillance.
And kept away from his family.
Victor believed Miguel had hidden evidence that could expose the entire operation.
He wanted it.
And he believed Isabel might know where it was.
Dante reviewed the records.
Then looked at me.
"Did Miguel ever give you anything unusual?"
I shook my head.
"No."
"A drive? A notebook? A key?"
I thought.
Then remembered something.
A small wooden box.
Miguel had given it to Sophie shortly before he disappeared.
It contained a music box.
A tiny ballerina.
A melody that played when the lid opened.
I looked up.
"The music box."
Dante frowned.
"What music box?"
I swallowed.
"Sophie's."
We returned to the cottage under supervision.
The place felt strange.
Too quiet.
The broken latch had been repaired.
The window cleaned.
But I could still hear the knocking.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
I found the music box in Sophie's closet.
Its paint was chipped.
The ballerina was missing one arm.
I opened it.
A soft melody played.
Miguel had bought it at a flea market.
He'd told Sophie it was magic.
I turned it over.
There was a small compartment beneath the base.
I had never noticed it.
Inside was a tiny memory card.
My hands shook.
Dante arranged for investigators to examine the card.
It contained copies of shipping manifests.
Financial records.
And correspondence connecting Victor Salcedo to the diversion of shipments.
There was also a video.
Miguel sat in a workshop.
He looked tired.
But alive.
He stared into the camera.
"If anything happens to me, my name is Miguel Reyes."
My breath caught.
He continued.
"I've found evidence that shipments are being stolen and rerouted through private warehouses."
He swallowed.
"I don't know who I can trust."
Then he looked directly into the camera.
"Isabel, if you ever see this..."
His voice broke.
"I love you."
I began crying.
"And tell Sophie that Daddy loves her more than all the stars."
The video ended.
For a long time, nobody spoke.
Then Dante looked at me.
"We have enough to move forward."
May you like
I wiped my tears.
"Then let's bring him home."
