Chapter 90: The Men Outside

Louis pulled Freya farther behind the concrete support while Victor moved toward a narrow side corridor. The warehouse lights suddenly went out, leaving only pale illumination from the high windows. Freya's pulse hammered, but she forced herself to listen instead of panic.

Footsteps entered through the main door. At least two people, perhaps three. They weren't calling Victor's name. That made the silence worse.

Victor whispered, "Rear corridor. Now." Louis picked up one document case while Victor took the other. Freya followed between them.

They had barely reached the corridor when a flashlight swept across the warehouse. Someone shouted. Louis grabbed Freya's wrist and ran.

The rear loading area contained stacked pallets, old machinery, and a chained gate. Victor swore. "That wasn't locked earlier."

Freya looked around quickly. "There." A maintenance door sat behind a stack of plastic crates.

Victor stared at her. "How did you see that?"

"Because unlike you two, I'm looking for exits instead of dramatic confrontation."

Even Louis almost laughed.

They reached the door just as footsteps entered the loading area. Louis shoved it open. A narrow alley ran behind the warehouse.

His phone regained signal immediately.

Derek's messages flooded the screen.

Louis sent their location and pulled Freya toward the street. Victor stopped. "If I go with you, they'll know we're working together."

"They already know you met us," Louis said.

"Not necessarily who left with whom." Victor handed Louis the second case. "Take this."

Freya frowned. "Where are you going?"

"Somewhere they won't expect."

"That's exactly what people say before disappearing for another ten chapters," Freya muttered.

Louis looked at her sharply despite the situation. She pretended not to notice.

A vehicle turned into the alley. Louis moved Freya behind him until the headlights flashed twice—the signal Derek had arranged.

Derek jumped out. "Get in."

Victor was already moving in the opposite direction.

"Louis," Freya said.

He made a decision. Protecting the evidence and Freya mattered more than chasing Victor.

They got into Derek's car.

As they pulled away, a dark SUV emerged near the warehouse. It didn't follow them. Instead, it turned toward the direction Victor had gone.

Derek immediately called the investigator positioned farther out. "Follow the SUV. Do not engage."

Freya looked back until the warehouse disappeared.

Only then did she notice her hands shaking.

Louis took one of them. "Are you hurt?"

"No."

"Sure?"

"Yes." She looked at him. "You?"

"Fine."

Derek glanced at them through the mirror. "Wonderful. Now that everyone is fine, can someone explain why a supposedly secret meeting had visitors?"

Victor's document cases might contain the answer.

Back at Northstar, they opened them under cameras and copied everything. The records included account statements, internal correspondence, and a handwritten list of people Victor believed had worked for Adrian.

One name made Louis go completely still.

Thomas Grant.

Freya noticed. "Who is that?"

Louis looked at the page. "My father's closest friend."

The conspiracy had just moved one step closer to Louis's childhood.

Derek later confirmed that the men entering the warehouse had worn no visible company markings and had avoided every camera facing the main road. Whoever sent them had planned carefully. Louis ordered the copied documents stored in three separate locations. Freya watched him work and realized the night had changed the stakes: evidence alone was no longer dangerous only to reputations. Someone was willing to move physically when threatened.