Chapter 5 - THE KEY MICHAEL LEFT BEHIND
Sarah kept Michael's key inside a small tin box.
She had never used it.
Not because she didn't want answers.
Because answers could get people killed.
But Adrian Moretti's appearance changed everything.
Someone knew where she worked.
Someone knew about her scar.
And someone might already be watching.
She called the number on Adrian's card.
He answered immediately.
"Sarah?"
She closed her eyes.
"My name isn't Sarah."
Silence.
Then:
"I'm listening."
She swallowed.
"It's Elena Ward."
Adrian didn't speak.
She continued.
"Four years ago, I worked with Michael Torres."
The silence changed.
When Adrian finally spoke, his voice was low.
"Michael Torres is dead."
"I know."
"How?"
"I was there."
Adrian arrived at Eddie's after closing.
Alone.
Elena had insisted.
Eddie waited in the kitchen.
She wasn't going to be trapped with a stranger.
Adrian sat across from her.
"Tell me what happened."
She told him.
Everything.
The investigation.
The shell companies.
The office.
The shooting.
Michael's final words.
When she mentioned Victor Salerno, Adrian's face changed.
"Victor?"
She nodded.
"He was involved."
Adrian stared.
"He's worked for me for fifteen years."
Elena looked at him.
"Then you know how much damage he could do."
Adrian remained silent.
Then he rolled up his sleeve.
Elena looked at the scar.
"How did you get it?"
His expression darkened.
"Same night."
She froze.
"What?"
Adrian explained.
Four years earlier, he had received an anonymous warning about Michael Torres's investigation.
He went to the office building.
But when he arrived, gunfire had already begun.
He entered through the rear staircase.
Someone fired at him.
The bullet grazed his left forearm.
He fought his way out.
By the time police arrived, Michael was dead.
And Elena had already been taken to the hospital.
Elena stared.
"You were there."
Adrian nodded.
"I tried to find the surviving witness."
She felt cold.
"Me."
"Yes."
He continued.
"Victor told me she died."
Elena closed her eyes.
Adrian looked at her.
"Do you still have anything Michael gave you?"
She hesitated.
Then opened her bag.
A small metal key lay in her palm.
Adrian stared.
"Where did you get that?"
"Michael gave it to me before he died."
Adrian reached into his coat.
He removed an old photograph.
Michael Torres stood beside him.
Behind them was a warehouse.
Adrian pointed to a small metal locker visible in the background.
"That key."
Elena looked closer.
He continued.
"Michael used to keep backup records in a private storage facility."
Elena swallowed.
"Do you know where?"
Adrian nodded.
May you like
And for the first time in four years, Elena felt something she had almost forgotten.
Hope.
