Chapter 7: The Woman Who Had Been Hiding for Three Years
Benjamin immediately called hotel security.
"Lock down the administrative offices. Nobody enters or leaves without authorization.""
The head of security, a former New Orleans police detective named Raymond Foster, answered within seconds.
"Understood, Mr. Carter. Is there a specific threat?""
Benjamin looked at Naomi.
"Yes. Someone may be inside this building who has been involved in financial fraud, identity theft, and the disappearance of confidential company records.""
Raymond's voice became serious.
"Should I contact the police?""
"Not until Robert has secured the evidence. But I want every entrance monitored.""
"Understood.""
Benjamin ended the call.
Naomi was standing beside the conference table, holding Grace against her shoulder.
"Daddy, what if something happened to Sarah?""
Benjamin reached for her hand.
"We're going to find her.""
"But she sounded terrified.""
"I know.""
Robert was already working on his laptop.
"Mr. Carter, I have the number she called from. It appears to be a temporary mobile number, but the call connected through a nearby cellular tower.""
"How nearby?""
"Within a mile of the hotel.""
Naomi looked toward the windows.
"She's close?""
"Possibly.""
Benjamin turned toward Raymond, who had just entered the conference room.
"Have you seen anyone unfamiliar around the building?""
Raymond shook his head.
"Not yet. But I'll check the loading entrance and underground parking.""
"Take two officers with you.""
Raymond nodded.
Before leaving, he glanced at Naomi.
"Ma'am, are you comfortable staying here?""
Naomi looked down at Grace.
"Honestly? No.""
Benjamin immediately stood.
"We're moving to the private residence upstairs.""
The hotel had a residential penthouse reserved for senior executives and visiting family members.
It had its own elevator, private security entrance, and reinforced access doors.
But as they approached the corridor, Naomi noticed something.
A housekeeping cart was parked outside the conference room.
A young employee was standing beside it.
He was wearing a dark hotel uniform and holding a folded towel.
When Benjamin walked past, the employee lowered his head.
Naomi stopped.
"Excuse me?""
The employee looked up.
"Yes, ma'am?""
"Have you worked here long?""
"About two months.""
Naomi nodded.
"What's your name?""
"Caleb.""
She glanced at his name badge.
Then at his hands.
They were shaking.
"Are you okay?""
Caleb looked toward the hallway.
"Yes, ma'am.""
Benjamin noticed the exchange.
"Is there a problem?""
Caleb swallowed.
"No, sir.""
Naomi looked at the cart.
There was a small white envelope resting beneath the folded towels.
Something about it caught her attention.
The envelope had her name written across the front.
*NAOMI CARTER.*
She stepped closer.
"What's that?""
Caleb went pale.
"I don't know.""
Benjamin reached for it.
"Don't touch it.""
Robert approached and carefully removed the envelope using a pair of gloves from his briefcase.
Inside was a photograph.
It showed Naomi standing outside her apartment building in Baton Rouge.
Grace was in her arms.
The photograph had been taken only four days earlier.
On the back, someone had written:
*Your mother should have stayed quiet.*
Naomi felt her knees weaken.
Benjamin caught her arm.
"Baby?""
She couldn't speak.
Caleb backed away.
"I didn't put that there.""
Raymond appeared at the end of the corridor.
"What's happening?""
Benjamin held up the photograph.
Raymond examined it.
"Where did this come from?""
Caleb shook his head.
"I swear I don't know.""
Benjamin looked directly at him.
"Who gave you the envelope?""
Caleb's eyes filled with tears.
"Mr. Reed.""
Robert looked up.
"Thomas Reed?""
Caleb nodded.
"He came through the service entrance about twenty minutes ago. He told me to leave the envelope outside the conference room.""
Raymond stepped closer.
"Where did he go?""
"I don't know. He said he was meeting someone upstairs.""
Benjamin's expression hardened.
"Who?""
Caleb shook his head.
"He didn't say.""
Raymond immediately spoke into his radio.
"All security personnel, check the executive floors. Possible unauthorized individual. Male, approximately fifty years old, dark suit.""
Caleb began crying.
"Please don't fire me. I didn't know what was inside.""
Naomi looked at him.
"Did he threaten you?""
Caleb nodded.
"He said he knew where my younger brother went to school. He said if I didn't deliver the envelope, something could happen to him.""
Naomi's expression softened.
She understood fear.
She had felt it herself only minutes earlier.
"What's your brother's name?""
"Isaiah.""
"How old?""
"Eleven.""
Naomi looked at Benjamin.
"Daddy, he's being threatened too.""
Benjamin nodded.
"Raymond, make sure this young man is protected. Contact the authorities about his brother.""
Raymond placed a reassuring hand on Caleb's shoulder.
"Come with me. You're not in trouble.""
As they moved away, Robert examined the photograph.
"Mr. Carter, this was taken from across the street.""
Benjamin looked at it.
"Can you identify the photographer?""
"Not from this image alone.""
Naomi stared at the handwriting.
"Why would someone bring this here?""
Benjamin answered quietly.
"Because they want us frightened.""
He turned toward Raymond.
"Find Thomas Reed.""
Raymond nodded.
"Already looking.""
Then Robert's phone rang.
He answered.
"Robert Ellis.""
A woman's voice came through.
"Is Benjamin Carter there?""
Robert looked up.
"Who is this?""
"Sarah Mitchell.""
Benjamin took the phone.
"Sarah, where are you?""
"I'm at the old warehouse on Tchoupitoulas Street.""
"Are you safe?""
A long pause.
"No.""
Benjamin looked toward Robert.
"Stay where you are. We're sending someone.""
Sarah began speaking quickly.
"Listen to me. I have the original trust documents, the payment ledgers, and the recording Lorraine made before she died.""
Benjamin froze.
"You have another recording?""
"Yes.""
"Why didn't you send it to me?""
"Because Evelyn told me that if I ever gave you those documents, Naomi would lose everything.""
Benjamin's voice became colder.
"Where is Evelyn now?""
Sarah hesitated.
Then she whispered:
"She's not the person you need to worry about most.""
Benjamin frowned.
"What does that mean?""
Sarah's voice cracked.
"Thomas Reed isn't working for Magnolia Holdings.""
Benjamin looked toward the photograph.
"Who is he working for?""
Sarah took a shaky breath.
"He's working for the person who owns Magnolia Holdings.""
"Who?""
Before Sarah could answer, a loud crash came through the phone.
Someone shouted.
Sarah screamed.
Then the call disconnected.
Naomi grabbed her father's arm.
"Daddy!""
Benjamin immediately looked at Raymond.
"Get to that warehouse. Now.""
Raymond called for backup.
But before he could leave, a security guard hurried into the corridor.
"Mr. Carter!""
Benjamin turned.
"What?""
The guard looked frightened.
"We found something in the penthouse.""
Naomi's heart began pounding.
"What?""
The guard looked at Benjamin.
"Someone has already been inside.""
Benjamin stared at him.
"That's impossible. The security doors are locked.""
The guard swallowed.
"That's what we thought.""
He held out a small black device.
A key card.
On it was a printed label.
*EXECUTIVE MASTER ACCESS — E. CARTER.*
Benjamin looked at it.
Then at Robert.
Evelyn hadn't merely known about the fraud.
Someone had given her unrestricted access to every important room in the hotel.
And now Naomi understood why the mysterious caller had warned her father to leave.
May you like
They weren't trying to keep them out of the hotel.
They had already been waiting inside.
