Chapter 3 — The Delivery Cart Outside
Harrison followed the tracker toward the front door.
The signal strengthened.
Seven feet.
Five.
Three.
Then stopped.
Everyone looked through the glass.
A metal delivery cart stood beneath the bakery awning.
Covered in plastic against the rain.
Ryan ran outside.
He pulled back the cover.
The silver case was sitting beneath two empty flour crates.
“What the hell?”
Harrison carried it inside.
The lock was still intact.
The case did not appear damaged.
Maya looked toward Ryan.
“Still think it’s in my bag?”
Ryan’s face reddened.
“No.”
“Good.”
Harrison examined the security footage again.
This time they watched more carefully.
Maya stood near the counter.
Another customer moved between her and the camera.
But the silver case did not disappear at that moment.
It remained partially visible.
Several seconds later, Ryan himself walked past carrying an empty pastry tray.
The case disappeared behind him.
Then a delivery worker entered.
He rolled the metal cart toward the counter.
The case was no longer visible afterward.
“The delivery worker took it?” Lena asked.
Harrison zoomed in.
The man’s face could not be seen clearly.
Baseball cap.
Rain jacket.
Gloves.
He appeared to move something from the counter onto the cart.
Then rolled it outside.
Ryan checked the delivery schedule.
There was a problem.
No delivery had been scheduled at that time.
Harrison looked toward Evan and Lena.
“Did either of you send someone?”
Both shook their heads.
Then Evan looked toward the silver case.
“Someone knew it was here.”
Harrison nodded.
“Apparently.”
Maya asked:
“Who else knew about Carol’s note?”
Harrison thought about it.
Himself.
Ryan.
Claire from payroll.
And one other person.
Carol’s former coworker.
Mark Dalton.
Evan’s expression changed immediately.
“No.”
Lena looked toward him.
“What?”
Evan whispered:
“Mark called me last night.”