Mag-log inI kept the key in my pocket all morning.Every time my fingers brushed against it, I remembered Graham's face when he handed it to me.Don't open it here.He hadn't explained why. He hadn't told me where to find Locker 17 either.By noon, I had enough of guessing.I called Martin."Do you remember my father keeping any private storage lockers?"There was a pause."Private lockers?""I have a key. The tag says Locker 17."He went quiet."Miss Cross, can you describe the key?"I took it from my pocket."It's brass. There's a number stamped on one side. Seventeen."Another pause."Your father had a small records room in the old Crosswell administrative building. There were metal cabinets and numbered lockers along the back wall.""Does that building still belong to Crosswell?""Yes, but it's been closed for years. Most of the staff moved to the new headquarters.""Can you meet me there?""Today?""Now."I ended the call before he could change his mind.The old administrative building sto
The first truck refused to start.I watched the driver turn the key again. The engine coughed, made a horrible grinding sound, and died."Try it once more," June shouted over the rain.He did.Nothing."Forget it!" I called. "Get out and move away from the vehicle."The water had reached the lower section of the yard. It wasn't deep enough to cover the wheels, but it was rising, and I wasn't willing to gamble with anyone's life.June hurried toward me."We still have two trucks on the other side.""Are they loaded?""One is empty. The other has emergency supplies.""Move the supplies first. Take them to higher ground."She hesitated."What about the equipment in the lower storage room?"I looked toward the warehouse.The room contained equipment we had spent money purchasing. Some of it could be replaced. Some of it would take weeks to find again.But the workers standing around me couldn't."Leave it."June nodded and began shouting instructions.I pulled out my phone and called the
I had barely slept when I woke to the sound of my phone vibrating against the bedside table.For a moment, I thought it was Daniel calling again.Then I saw the weather alert.FLASH FLOOD WARNING — PORT MASON AND SURROUNDING COASTAL DISTRICTS.I sat up.That couldn't be right.I opened the notification and read it again. Heavy rainfall had been recorded overnight, with water levels rising in several low-lying areas. Residents were advised to avoid coastal roads.In my previous life, the first serious flood warnings had come much later.I checked the date.Then I checked it again.Something was happening earlier.I got out of bed and called June.She answered on the fourth ring."Evelyn?""Have you seen the warning?""Yes. The lower access road near the warehouse is already flooded."My stomach tightened."How bad?""Not enough to reach the loading floor, but the drains aren't clearing properly. We're monitoring it.""Move the vehicles away from the lower yard. Get the staff out of the
Daniel didn't call before coming to see me.He never did.I was reviewing the supplier list when my assistant announced that my husband was waiting outside."Tell him I'm busy.""He says it's important."I closed the laptop.Of course it was.Daniel walked in less than a minute later, looking as polished as ever. His dark suit was immaculate, his expression cold.He glanced at the documents on my desk."What are you doing with Crosswell's procurement department?""Working.""Don't play games with me, Evelyn."I raised an eyebrow.He picked up one of the printed reports."Emergency supplies? Fuel reserves? Warehouse inventories? Since when did you become interested in these things?"Since I watched the world drown.I kept that answer to myself."Since I realized this company has been badly managed."His jaw tightened."You're diverting company resources without consulting me.""Crosswell is not yours to manage.""Your father gave me authority over certain operations.""And I have a law
Daniel.My husband's name followed me all the way home.Graham's final words kept replaying in my head.Your father didn't die three days after that shipment was approved by coincidence.I had spent years believing my father's death was a terrible accident. Now I was being told that the last person he tried to meet was the man I had married.I wanted to call Daniel.I wanted to hear him deny it.But what would I do if he didn't?The envelope Graham had given me lay on the passenger seat. I hadn't opened it yet. I couldn't bring myself to do it while I was still thinking about Daniel.When I finally reached my apartment, I locked the door and sat at the kitchen counter.My father's handwriting was unmistakable.I carefully opened the envelope.Inside was a single folded sheet of paper and a small brass key.I unfolded the letter.Evelyn,If this reaches you, then something has happened that I hoped to prevent.There are people who see Crosswell as a business. Others see it as a way to
I found Graham Pike in his office, standing beside the window with a phone pressed to his ear.He ended the call when he saw me."Miss Cross.""Don't bother pretending you're pleased to see me."His eyes narrowed slightly. "What do you want?"I placed June's photograph on his desk.The old inventory sheet showed the fourth container's reference number. Beside it was his name.Graham glanced at the photograph, then looked away."Where did you get this?""That's your first question?""It's an old document.""Your name is beside a container that disappeared from a shipment my father was investigating."He took off his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose."I don't know anything about a missing container.""Then explain why your name is there.""Your father handled a lot of things himself. You should know that."I stared at him."My father is dead. If you know something, now would be a good time to tell me."His expression changed at the mention of my father.It was small, almost inv







