Chapter 6 - THE SECRET BENEATH THE RESTAURANT
The Linden Room reopened three days later under temporary management.
Daniel Mercer remained under investigation.
The restaurant's ownership company announced an independent audit.
I wasn't interested.
I was busy applying for jobs.
Three interviews.
Two rejections.
One offer that paid less than minimum wage after tips.
I stared at my bank account.
Six hundred and twelve dollars.
Rent was due in four days.
Then Detective Bell called.
"Sophie, we found something."
I sat upright.
"What?"
"Daniel Mercer had access to archived construction records."
I frowned.
"Why?"
"The Linden Room occupies part of a building that was renovated twelve years ago."
My stomach tightened.
"By my father's company?"
"Yes."
I closed my eyes.
The detective continued.
"Your father died during a warehouse renovation tied to the same development group."
I stared at the wall.
"So Daniel knew?"
"We're investigating what he knew."
That afternoon, I returned to The Linden Room.
Not as an employee.
As a witness.
Detective Bell met me near the entrance.
Adrian stood beside him.
I stopped.
He looked at me.
"Sophie."
I nodded.
"Adrian."
His expression was careful.
Not cold.
Careful.
As though he understood I had every reason to distrust him.
Detective Bell led us into the basement.
The old storage area smelled of dust and damp concrete.
He pointed toward a wall.
"During the audit, workers found an access panel concealed behind shelving."
I stared.
The panel had been opened.
Inside was a small metal compartment.
Detective Bell held up a sealed evidence bag.
Inside were documents.
Old photographs.
And a notebook.
My father's handwriting covered the first page.
I recognized it immediately.
My knees weakened.
Adrian reached toward me.
Then stopped.
He didn't touch me.
I was grateful.
Detective Bell opened a copy of the notebook.
The first entry read:
If anything happens to me, the safety reports were changed. Vincent Voss knows.
I covered my mouth.
Tears filled my eyes.
My father had known.
He'd known something was wrong.
And he'd tried to leave proof.
Adrian stared at the notebook.
His face went pale.
Then he whispered:
"My uncle didn't just ignore the violations."
Detective Bell looked at him.
"What do you mean?"
Adrian swallowed.
"He covered them up."
I turned toward him.
"How do you know?"
Adrian looked at me.
May you like
Then said quietly:
"Because I remember the night he ordered the records destroyed."
