Chapter 9 - THE GIRL NATHAN LEFT BEHINDRiley did not open envelope at station.
She couldn’t.
She held it in both hands all way back.
Dominic did not pressure.
At townhouse she sat on floor beside bed for almost an hour.
Then came downstairs.
“Stay.”
Dominic looked up.
“You want us here?”
“Yes.”
Grant closed curtains.
Riley opened envelope.
Nathan’s handwriting.
Riley,
If you are reading this, then either I failed to come back to you or I failed to keep this from reaching your life. I am sorry for both.
Riley stopped.
Her eyes filled.
She continued.
Nathan wrote carefully.
No names.
Not yet.
He said he had discovered people using respected companies to hide crimes.
Men who believed money made victims invisible.
He had copied proof.
He had tried to turn it over.
Then someone inside a circle he trusted learned.
Nathan moved Riley because he feared retaliation.
I did not leave because I wanted another life.
You were my life.
Riley covered mouth.
Dominic looked down.
Nathan continued:
The key opens the first place. The coin tells Dominic where the second is. If you have had to call him, tell him I am sorry I was right.
Dominic froze.
“The coin.”
Riley handed it.
Old challenge coin from their unit.
One side scratched intentionally.
Three letters:
S.M.R.
Dominic knew immediately.
“Saint Michael’s Ridge.”
Grant:
“What is that?”
Dominic's face had gone distant.
“Place Nathan and I promised to meet if we ever got separated after war.”
“Where?”
“Pennsylvania.”
Riley stared.
“You never told anyone?”
“Only Nathan.”
That was powerful.
A location outside Vincent’s knowledge.
Nathan had split evidence.
The key opened first place.
Coin told second.
Grant asked:
“What does key open?”
Riley looked at letter.
No detail.
Then remembered.
“My dad had storage box at old house.”
“What old house?”
“Cabin.”
“Where?”
“Near Scranton.”
Dominic looked at Grant.
“Find property.”
Riley continued reading.
Final lines:
Do not become me, Riley.
Do not spend your life fighting my war.
If Dominic is with you, remind him of what he promised me in the hospital.
Dominic’s chest tightened.
Riley read aloud:
“Make your life worth saving.”
Silence.
Dominic turned away.
Nathan had known exactly what would reach him.
Riley looked at him.
“What did he mean?”
Dominic answered:
“He said it after saving my life.”
“Why put it here?”
“Because he knew I’d want revenge.”
Riley studied.
“Do you?”
Dominic looked back.
“Yes.”
Honesty again.
“But he’s telling you not to.”
“Yes.”
“What are you going to do?”
Dominic said:
“Protect you.”
“Find truth.”
“And try very hard not to disappoint dead man who still knows how to annoy me.”
Riley laughed through tears.
Grant smiled.
Then security alert chimed.
Grant checked.
Vehicle stopped half block away.
Same plate pattern tied to men who pursued Riley.
Dominic’s face changed.
Grant said:
“They followed.”
Riley closed envelope.
Dominic:
“Move.”
She shook head.
“No more running.”
“This isn’t running.”
“It feels same.”
Dominic crouched to her level.
“Riley.”
“Your father survived war because he knew when staying was courage and when leaving was stupid.”
“He taught me that.”
She stared.
Dominic continued:
“We leave now so we can choose next room.”
“Not because they chose it for us.”
That reached her.
She stood.
They exited through secure rear route and moved to separate location while police liaison was notified of suspicious vehicle.
Dominic made another choice Nathan would have appreciated.
He did not send men to attack.
He documented.
Identified.
Prepared to expose.
War was changing.
Before departing, Riley looked at townhouse.
“Do you think they know about letter?”
Dominic:
“No.”
“Then why follow?”
“They know you are key.”
“To what?”
May you like
Dominic looked at Nathan’s envelope in her hand.
“The thing your father died protecting.”
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