«But where’s that office? Rivas Jewelers no longer exists. Its old headquarters must now be owned by another company.»
When we felt lost, Mr. Paul provided another valuable piece of information. «After the CEO’s death, Mr. Caldwell sealed his entire old office. He said it was to preserve his memories, but I know he was scared. Scared that someone would find something inside. That room is still intact, on the top floor of the old Rivas building.»
All the clues seemed to converge on one point. A room sealed for 25 years that might contain the «black box» of the entire case. But how could we get into such a heavily guarded place owned by another group?
The old Rivas building was now called Aurelian Tower, standing in the city center like an impregnable fortress. Infiltrating it, especially the sealed room on the top floor, was an almost impossible mission for ordinary people like us.
«This can’t be done through normal channels,» David said after circling the building. «The security system here is state-of-the-art. There are surveillance cameras everywhere, and guards patrolling 24/7. The access doors on each floor use magnetic cards. It’s impossible to get in through the front door.»
While we were racking our brains, we finally received a call from Liam, who had been silent for several days, with important news.
«I’ve spoken with my lawyer friend. He says that as biological children, we have the full right to request information about our mother’s safe deposit box at the Swiss Bank. But the process is very complicated and will take at least a few months. But he discovered something interesting. Five years ago, right when Mom Adrian sent the last letter, someone else tried to access that safe deposit box, but failed due to lack of identity documents.»
«Who?» I asked anxiously.
«It was Mr. Caldwell’s people.»
A chill ran down my spine. He also knew about the existence of that safe deposit box. He had been looking for it for years. This confirmed to us even more, that inside there was something that threatened him, and it also meant that we didn’t have much time left. If Mr. Caldwell discovered we were investigating, he wouldn’t hesitate to act first.
The urgency of the situation forced us to make a bold decision.
«If we can’t get in through the front door,» I said, looking at David and Liam, «we’ll get in another way. Aurelian Tower and our Miller Tower are right next to each other. The height of the roofs of both buildings is almost the same.»
«Don’t tell me…» Liam looked at me in amazement. «No, Chloe, it’s too dangerous.»
«It’s the only way,» I said firmly. «We don’t have any more time. You can disable the security system of Miller Tower. David has the technology and experience as a police officer, and I… I have to get in there. That room is related to my past.»
After a long discussion, they both had to reluctantly agree. The plan was drawn up with great detail and caution. The time of action was set for 2 AM, when activity in both buildings comes to a complete halt.
That night, the city slept. Only the faint lights of the streetlamps remained. When I stood on the roof of Miller Tower with David, my heart was pounding like a drum. The wind at that height whipped my hair fiercely. From here, the roof of Aurelian Tower seemed to be only about 15 feet away. It wasn’t a great distance, but it was an abyss between life and death.
David carefully prepared the equipment. He was an expert at this. He used a special gun to launch a high-strength cable to the railing of the opposite building. The cable was firmly anchored at both ends.
«I’ll go first,» David said in a deep, reassuring voice. «When I cross and secure the area, you’ll slide down the rope. Don’t be afraid, I’ll hold you tight.»
I nodded. My palms were already damp with sweat. I held my breath as I watched David deftly hang from the rope and cross the dark void. A few minutes later, he arrived safely on the other side and signaled to me.
It was my turn. I took a deep breath and clung tightly to the cold rope. My whole body was suspended in the night sky. Below, the city lights seemed distant, and a small mistake could make me fall. But the thought of my mother, of the truth that awaited me on the other side, gave me strength.
When my feet touched the railing of Aurelian Tower, David rushed to help me. «You did it,» he whispered proudly.
We quickly disabled the roof cameras and found our way to the emergency stairs. The sealed office was just on the floor below. The old lock was no problem for David. The heavy door creaked open, revealing a space that had been plunged into darkness and dust for twenty-five years.
We turned on a small flashlight, and the dim light scanned the room. Everything was as Mr. Paul had described: the desk, the bookshelf, the sofa set, all covered in a thick layer of dust. The stale air smelled of time.
According to Mr. Paul, the recorder was hidden behind a large oil painting on the wall. David carefully took down the painting. Sure enough, an old cassette recorder was cleverly installed in a small recess in the wall.
«Will it still work?» I asked worriedly.
«It’s hard to say,» David replied, «but let’s take it anyway.»
While David dismantled the device, I started searching further. I intuitively felt there had to be something else in that room. The light of my flashlight scanned the bookshelf. Hundreds of old leather-bound books, mostly on management and law.
Suddenly, I remembered a habit of my father’s. As a CFO, he also always carried a small notebook, where he jotted down the most important things, the secrets he didn’t want anyone to know. Would CEO Rivas have a similar habit?
I started pulling out the books one by one, flipping through the pages quickly. And when I picked up a thick law book titled, «Justice and Truth,» I noticed it was strangely heavy. When I opened it, I felt my heart stop.
The inside of the book was hollowed out, leaving a space just for a small black leather-bound notebook. I picked it up with trembling hands. «This is it. It has to be this.»
Just then, we heard footsteps and a faint murmur of voices from the hallway. «Check the roof area carefully. I think I saw a suspicious shadow.»
I felt my heart drop to my stomach. We had been discovered. The building’s security guards were on patrol. The way back was blocked. We were trapped in this secret room.
The footsteps in the hallway grew closer. The light from the security team’s flashlight seeped through the crack under the door, creating ghostly shadows in the dusty room. I felt a knot in my chest, and a cold sweat ran down my back.
If we were caught here, with this evidence in hand, our entire plan would be ruined. We would be charged with trespassing, and the notebook and recorder would never see the light of day.
David motioned for me to be silent. He quickly turned off the flashlight and pulled me behind a huge old filing cabinet. We held our breath, trying not to make the slightest sound.
We heard the jingle of a key in the lock. My heart was about to burst. They were coming in.
«This room has been sealed for a long time. Who would come in here?» one voice said.
«Better safe than sorry,» replied another. «Lately, the boss has been telling us to keep a close eye on this area.»
The «boss» had to be someone from Mr. Caldwell’s camp. Despite so many years, he was still having this place watched. That confirmed even more that he knew very well what was hidden in here.
The lock clicked, and the door creaked open. A dazzling beam of flashlight light swept across the room. David and I almost stopped breathing, pressed against the cold filing cabinet. Fortunately, the cabinet was very large, and we were hiding in the deepest corner.
«See? Nothing, just dust and cobwebs,» the first voice said again. «Come on, let’s check other places.»
They lingered at the door for a few more seconds. The light scanned the room again, and then the door slammed shut. We heard the lock click again, and the footsteps faded away.
We were safe, at least for now. I let out a sigh of relief, feeling my strength fail me. David motioned for me to wait a little longer. About ten minutes later, when we were sure the security team had moved on, he turned the small flashlight back on.
«We have to get out of here now,» he whispered. «The way we came is no longer safe.»
«But how? The main door is locked, and there are guards in the hallway.» We were completely trapped.
David’s gaze scanned the room and stopped at a small ventilation window near the ceiling. «That’s the only way out.»
That window was very small and high up, barely enough for one person to pass through. Moreover, it opened onto the building’s facade. Outside, there was only a narrow ledge, barely a foot wide, running along the wall.
«It’s too dangerous,» I shook my head. «One small misstep, and…»
«It’s the only option,» David said firmly. «Do you trust me?»
In this critical situation, his calm and determination were my only support. I nodded.
David moved the old desk against the wall and stacked a chair on top. He climbed up first and carefully unlatched the window. A gust of cold night air rushed in.
«That ledge leads to an emergency balcony at the end of the hall,» he explained. «It’s about 30 feet away. I’ll go first and come back to help you. You just have to stick to the wall and walk very slowly.»
With that, he slipped out the window and carefully stepped onto the narrow ledge. My heart leaped into my throat watching him. A strong gust of wind could have sent him falling, but David moved with great professionalism. His steps were firm, his back pressed against the wall. A few minutes later, he reached the emergency balcony safely and signaled to me.
It was my turn. The notebook and recorder were safely tucked into my crossbody bag. I took a deep breath, trying not to look down. My legs trembled as I stepped onto the ledge. I felt my whole body press against the cold wall. The wind whistled in my ears, carrying the sounds of the city at night.
«Don’t be afraid. Just look at me,» I heard David’s voice from ahead. A deep, calm, and reassuring voice. «Just one step at a time.»
I focused on David’s figure, trying not to think about the deep abyss below. 30 feet had never seemed so long. When my hand finally touched the one David held out to me, I felt like I had come back to life.
We went down several floors via the emergency stairs and then found a way back into the main hallway. Fortunately, the security team was patrolling another area. We quickly returned to the roof and crossed back to Miller Tower on the rope. When my feet touched familiar ground, I collapsed, panting. The suffocating escape was finally over.
Back in the safety of my apartment, we didn’t rest but immediately began examining what we had brought back. Liam had also arrived and listened to our story with a worried expression. David carefully opened the old recorder. After fiddling with it for a while, he managed to get it working. We held our breath and listened intently.
The old cassette tape began to turn, emitting the static of time. And then we heard a familiar voice, that of CEO Rivas, my biological father. He was talking on the phone.
«I don’t agree, Vice President Caldwell. That project is too risky. The cash flow isn’t transparent. I can’t approve it.»
After a brief silence, his voice became sharper. «I’ve told you before. Don’t try to fool me. I know what you’re doing behind my back. If you don’t stop, I will reveal everything to the world.»
The call ended. And my heart was pounding. This was proof of the conflict between my father and Mr. Caldwell. But the next recording truly stunned us.
This time, it was Mr. Caldwell’s voice. He was talking to someone. «The old man has found out everything. We can’t leave him alive. A car accident, yes… it has to look like an accident. His family… take care of all of them. Leave no one behind. And then, Rivas will be ours.»
A recorded confession from 25 years ago. An undeniable confession.
At the same time, I opened the black leather-bound notebook. Inside were not only records of Rivas Jewelers’ business transactions, but also short diary entries from my father. He wrote about his worry upon discovering Mr. Caldwell’s conspiracy, his anxiety about feeling watched, and his infinite love for his wife and two young children.
And on the last page, there was a line written hastily in a special ink, an ink visible only under ultraviolet light—a prudent habit of finance professionals. Liam and I knew it well.
We quickly turned off the lights, and David shone a small UV flashlight he always carried onto the paper. The writing appeared: «All original evidence (contracts, account statements) are in the safe deposit box at the Swiss Bank. Number XYZ. I have entrusted the key to Catherine. If anything happens to me, trust her. Catherine will know what to do.»
Everything became clear. Mom Catherine not only raised us but was the trusted person my father entrusted with the mission of protecting the most important evidence, the inheritance, and the future of his two children. The love and sacrifice our two mothers showed us were immense and grand.
Tears welled up again, but this time they were tears of gratitude and pride.
We now had in our hands the confession from the past, the clue to the decisive evidence stored in Switzerland, and Mr. Caldwell’s current crimes. The plan for the final counterattack, the decisive battle, was about to begin. The net of heaven had been woven tightly. All that was left was for the biggest fish to fall into it himself.
With irrefutable evidence in our hands, we knew the hour of final judgment was very near. But we were also aware that confronting a cunning old fox like Mr. Caldwell required not acting rashly. A small mistake could give him the opportunity to turn the tables and erase all traces.
«We need a perfectly flawless plan,» Liam said with a firm expression. «We have to hit him by surprise, without giving him time to react.»
The plan was drawn up with the participation of all three of us. Liam, with his position in the business world, would deliver the decisive blow in the commercial arena. David, with the support of his trusted colleagues, would handle the legal aspect to leave him no escape. And I would confront him directly, becoming the fuse for the bomb that was about to detonate.
The first step was to resolve the matter in Switzerland. With the recording and the notebook as evidence, and the cooperation of the American police, Liam’s lawyer friend quickly managed to convince the Swiss bank. They agreed to open the safe deposit box, but on the condition that I was present, and the process was carried out under the supervision of both parties.
A week later, Liam and I were in Zurich, Switzerland. The bank vault was cold and silent. When the familiar metal box was placed on the table, my heart pounded again. Mom Catherine’s key slid smoothly into the lock, and with a turn, the box door clicked open.
Inside there was no money or jewels, but a thick stack of documents carefully wrapped in plastic. They were all the originals of the ghost contracts, the bank statements recording the illicit money flows, and all the secret agreements Mr. Caldwell had used to take over Rivas Jewelers. Each document bore his handwritten signature. This was the ultimate weapon, the final sword that could end that demon’s career.
With the lawyer present, we made copies of all the material and immediately sent them to David. Everything was ready.
Upon our return to the United States, the atmosphere was tense. Mr. Caldwell, after the failed intrusion attempt at Aurelian Tower, seemed to have sensed the danger. He began to exhibit defensive behavior. The number of his bodyguards doubled, and all his meetings were strictly controlled.
«He’s trying to erase his tracks and move his assets,» David reported in an emergency meeting. «We have to act before it’s too late.»
D-Day was set. It was the day of the Aurelian Holdings Annual General Meeting, a major event that brought together all the management, major shareholders, and the media. It would be the perfect stage for us to end this play.
That morning, I chose a deep red dress, a color symbolizing power and determination. Liam wore his usual elegant suit, but in his eyes was an unusually fierce determination. We attended not as competitors, but as guests of honor, a surprising move Liam had arranged beforehand through some shareholders favorable to the Miller Corporation.
The convention center’s auditorium was packed. Mr. Caldwell sat at the head of the stage, still maintaining an expression of confidence and authority. He was giving a passionate speech about Aurelian Holdings’ achievements and its ambitious future plans—a perfect speech from a competent leader.
When his speech ended to thunderous applause, Liam gave me a signal. Now.
«Excuse me.» A voice boomed from the doorway. It was David, entering in uniform with an investigative team. «Mr. Richard Caldwell, CEO of Aurelian Holdings, we are here to execute an emergency arrest and search warrant in connection with charges of organized murder and misappropriation of assets.»