Chapter 3 - THE MAN WHO OWNED SILVER CREEKMarcus Vance did not raise his voice.
He didn't need to.
“Detective Miller, Clara Turner suffered an accidental fall.”
Miller’s eyes narrowed.
“Interesting.”
“What?”
“You seem unusually informed.”
“My company was contacted.”
“By who?”
Marcus smiled.
“Concerned employees.”
I stepped forward.
“My wife found your shipping records.”
Silence.
Marcus looked at me.
“No.”
“You don't know what she found.”
“Yes, I do.”
That answer was too fast.
Then he recovered.
“Because Vanguard has been undergoing internal compliance review.”
I stared.
“You blocked my emergency calls.”
“I did no such thing.”
“My mother says you came here.”
Teresa started crying.
Marcus looked at her.
Not lovingly.
Warning.
My stomach tightened.
“What did you tell my family?”
“I advised them your assignment could not be interrupted.”
“Why?”
“Security protocol.”
“Clara was dying.”
Marcus leaned closer.
“You didn't know she was dying.”
The words stopped me.
Not:
Nobody knew.
Not:
We couldn't reach you.
You didn't know.
As though he did.
Miller heard it too.
“Mr. Vance, remain here.”
Marcus smiled.
“I think not.”
Outside, engines started.
Black SUVs.
Private security.
Then the local cruiser radios died.
Miller checked his.
Nothing.
Marcus adjusted his cuff.
“Silver Creek depends on Vanguard.”
“Schools.”
“Roads.”
“Payroll.”
“Half your county officials have families whose mortgages depend on us.”
He looked at me.
“You can turn grief into a crusade if you want.”
“But crusades burn everyone.”
Then he lowered his voice.
“Accidents happen to truck drivers too.”
There.
A threat.
Direct enough for me.
Careful enough for court.
Miller stepped between us.
Marcus’s smile disappeared.
Then Lily screamed from behind me.
“That's him!”
Everyone turned.
She pointed at Marcus.
“He came when Mommy was crying.”
My blood turned cold.
Marcus looked at my daughter.
May you like
For the first time—
he seemed afraid.
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