“So, we need to dig, right? Connect all the pieces and hope we find out where they’re putting all the artifacts?” I ask, already pulling up tabs on my computer.
“Exactly. Pull employee records and see if anyone interesting shows up,” he says.
“On it.”
I have no idea how long I’ve been looking through LP Group personnel, but I think I’ve finally found something.
Charlie Daniels.
That can’t be a coincidence, can it?
I go searching for information on him, what he did at LP Group and anything else I can find on him. The first thing I find is that he is, in fact, Claire’s twin brother.
Fuck, what were you into, Charlie?
I have the sinking feeling that drugs weren’t Charlie’s problem.
“Hey, gather around,” Woodcroft calls out to the group. “It’s all hands on deck with LP Group. I have a warrant for all the records, film, and media of any sort. LP thinks we’re looking into their firm because of some tax issue, and I’d like to keep it that way. They send over a ton of camera feeds, so get on it.” Then he goes back to his office.
“I’ve got something too,” I tell the team. “Claire’s twin brother worked there. I think there’s more to it, so I’ll send you what I have on him. Keep an eye out for him on the tapes; it might lead us somewhere.”
They all nod and disperse, but Juliette sticks around.
“You okay? I can work overtime and look into this for you.”
“I’m good. I’m hoping …” I sigh. “I’m hoping I can give Claire something good to learn about her brother.”
“That’s a big ask, A-man.”
“I know.”
She pats my shoulder. “If there’s information to find, we’ll find it. Claire’s a part of this family too.”
I nod because I can’t articulate how much that means to me.
Now, it’s onto finding some answers.
Several hours later, I find something.
“Guys!” I call out, waiting for them to circle around my computer.
I hit play on the video and watch as Charlie walks down the hallway quickly, looking around nervously.
“I don’t get it,” Stone says.
“Right, watch as I reverse it.”
All five of us watch as he walks backward to a larger office. He huddles against the large door, eyes wide, before the video shows him walking backward to his desk. I wait about a minute and point to the video just as Oscar Cano steps off the elevator, holding a paper-wrapped object that’s most likely an artifact.
“Holy shit, he stumbled on the whole operation,” Juliette whispers.
“Seems so. That means he wasn’t killed because of some made-up debt. He was killed because he figured out too much.” My heart is in my throat. I’m not sure if this is good news, but at least I can tell Claire that he didn’t die because he was a junkie.
“We can’t guarantee that yet,” Lex says.
“Come on.” I gesture to the screen.
“I want to see what the medical examiners said about his death,” Juliette adds, already moving back to her desk.
