Chapter 89: The Warehouse Meeting

Victor chose an old warehouse near the river, which Freya considered unnecessarily theatrical. 'People in conspiracies never choose coffee shops,' she muttered as Louis parked several streets away.

'You wanted to come.'

'I can want to come and criticize the location.'

Louis had technically obeyed Victor's demand. Derek wasn't with them. What Victor didn't know was that Louis had arranged emergency tracking through a device Freya carried and had instructed Derek to intervene only if they stopped responding.

Inside the warehouse, Victor stood beside a metal table with two document cases. He looked tired rather than frightened.

His eyes moved to Freya. 'You look like your father when you're angry.'

'People keep telling me I look like my parents. I'd prefer answers.'

Victor gave a small nod. 'Fair.'

Louis remained between Freya and Victor without making the gesture obvious. 'Start with Adrian.'

Victor opened the first case. Inside were copies of bank records, letters, and photographs spanning almost twenty years.

He admitted that he had helped Adrian hide several early transactions. At the time, Victor believed they were protecting family investments from Charles's overly conservative control. Later, he discovered Adrian was using contractors and advisory firms to siphon money from joint projects.

'You helped him,' Freya said.

'At first, yes.'

'And when my father found out?'

Victor's expression tightened. 'I tried to convince David to stop investigating because Adrian had people around him I couldn't identify.'

'Did Adrian kill my parents?'

Victor met her eyes. 'I don't know.'

Freya hated the answer because she believed it.

Victor produced a report from a private investigator he had hired after the accident. It noted that the truck involved had undergone maintenance two days earlier at a garage later purchased by a Meridian-linked company. The driver disappeared after serving a short sentence for negligence.

Suspicious, but still not proof.

Louis asked, 'Why did you stay silent?'

'Because Charles died before we could finish. Then Adrian made it clear he knew about my involvement in the early transfers. If I exposed him, I exposed myself.'

Cowardice again. The network seemed built as much on compromised people as on loyal conspirators.

Victor opened the second case. 'When you took over Stone Holdings, Adrian became interested again. He believed Charles had hidden records inside the company. I tried to keep him away.'

'By accessing my strategy files?'

Victor looked ashamed. 'Sometimes. I was watching for what Adrian might target. But someone else used the same access routes.'

'The anchor?'

Victor nodded. 'Adrian.'

Before Louis could ask for proof, a sound echoed outside the warehouse.

Victor's head snapped toward the door.

'Did you bring someone?'

'No,' Louis said.

A second sound followed—the unmistakable slam of a vehicle door.

Victor quickly closed the document cases. 'Then they found me.'

Louis reached for Freya's hand and pulled her behind the nearest concrete support.

For the first time since the investigation began, the danger surrounding the old conspiracy was no longer contained inside documents and phone calls.

Freya's first instinct was to ask whether Victor had another exit. His expression answered before he spoke. The warehouse had a rear loading corridor, but the outer gate might already be watched. Louis quietly took out his phone. There was no signal. Victor swore under his breath. Someone had either chosen the location better than he admitted or prepared for the meeting after learning about it.

Freya tightened her grip on Louis's hand. She was frightened, but beneath the fear came anger. She had died once in her previous world because of a violent stranger. She had no intention of standing helplessly while another group of unknown men decided what happened to her. She looked around the warehouse, searching for exits, tools, anything useful. Louis noticed and said quietly, 'Stay with me.' This time, Freya didn't argue.