Page 115 of Truth

“It was fine. I’m glad to be back in Minneapolis.”

I said hello to a few of the other executives as I grabbed something to drink before going to my office. The day was going to drag until Michael sought me out. The key was to keep busy, so that was exactly what I did. There was plenty of work on my desk. It was all about concentrating.

Thankfully he didn’t make me wait all day. At ten, Jamie buzzed to let me know Michael wanted to see me in his office if I was available. There was no question of that. Although I was eager, I didn’t want to appear too eager. Taking my time, I went into my bathroom, splashed some cold water on my face, and adjusted my already-straight tie.

Deciding I needed a little more encouragement, I sent Brianna a text. Love you.

In less than a minute, my phone dinged with a response. Love you, too.

Most people would have viewed Brianna as a burden, but I didn’t. She was a phenomenal woman, and I was lucky to have her in my life.

At eight minutes, I couldn’t hold off any longer and made my way down the hall to Michael’s office. I knocked, even though he was expecting me, and he quickly waved me inside. Without prompting, I closed the door behind me and locked it. I didn’t want anyone accidentally walking in on our conversation.

“First, let me say that this needs to be turned over to the FBI. After what I’ve seen, this Ian Pierce has his hand in more things than I could track. There’s evidence of money laundering, as well as some extremely questionable transactions with a handful of men who are known fencers of stolen goods, especially rare artifacts and paintings.”

I loved what I was hearing so far. “How did you find all this out?”

“I’ve been in the finance world for a long time, Mr. Coleman. It’s been my job to go in and clean up companies whose books have been... less than honest. I know what I’m looking for, and I’ve made some contacts of my own in law enforcement.”

Did that mean he’d already talked to the police? I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. Yes, I wanted to get the law involved, but not yet. Not until I knew what I was dealing with.

“I noticed something extremely disturbing while I was digging.”

He placed the stack of papers in front of me and flipped to the page he wanted. These weren’t the same bank statements I’d given him. What I was looking at had details one would never find on a simple bank statement, including handwritten notes regarding individual transactions.

“There’s a name here. Juliet Mullins. I searched every financial database I could to no avail. So then I tried the FBI’s criminal database. Still nothing. Given what I’d already found, that surprised me. I knew there had to be something out there somewhere, so I did a general search of the Internet and found this.”

The paper he handed me next wasn’t a bank statement or any other financial document. It was a missing person flyer. My heart felt like it had descended into my stomach. He’d taken someone else.

“Was she ever found?” The words sounded foreign to my own ears.

“Yes.”

“Where?”

“She was found about fifty miles south of here. A construction crew was breaking ground on a new house and uncovered a body. It was her.”

I stood, unable to sit any longer, and put my hand over my mouth. He’d killed her. I turned to look back down at the paper in my hands, at the picture of a young girl, aged eighteen, with long brown hair, and a face that spoke of innocence.

I had to know. “When... do they know when she was killed?”

“Her body was found about six months ago, and it was estimated she’d been dead about a year.”

Tears clouded my vision as the reality of the situation sank in for the first time. If I’d not bought Brianna from Ian, she would have most likely suffered the same fate.

“Mr. Coleman?”

Looking up at the ceiling, I tried to get a grip on myself. I had to hear what else he had to say. “Go on. What else did you find?”

“Well, sir, I found your name, along with another woman’s name. Brianna Reeves.”

I nodded.

“I have to ask. Are you involved in something illegal? I know you said this man hurt someone you love, but... this looks bad from where I’m sitting.”

Before I could answer him, my phone rang. It was Tom, so I knew I had to take it. “Excuse me for a moment. What is it, Tom?”

“Mr. Coleman, there is a delivery here for Miss Reeves that requires a signature.”

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