Page 55 of Beautiful Prey

“You gonna tell me what’s up?”

“I will. Just not right now.”

“Call me back then. Promise?”

“I will.”

I hung up, then set my sights on the dark narrow road, heading south.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The security guard was different from the last time as I pulled to the warehouse gate. He gave me a strange look as he took my ID. When he asked if I had my keys, I dangled them in front of the window.

I hadn’t considered if Uncle Wes had told anyone not to let me in. Thankfully, the guard let me through before I even had time to worry about it. Uncle Wes had warned me, but I still had the keys and my right to the warehouse. But I doubted I’d have access for much longer.

I made my way down the path until I came to that building I dreaded so much. The windows were dark, and the streetlight was still out. I made sure this time to shut off my car and the lights before I slipped over to the door.

Using my phone as a flashlight, I turned the key in the lock and shoved the door open.

A chill ran down my spine as I peered through the dark. I flipped on the switch by the door and the lights flickered on.

I moved quickly around the shelves, past the MRI machine and the boxes, my eyes drawn to the gurney and the elevator behind it. I hated being here. I felt dirty and wrong knowing what was below my feet. But I was getting in that safe.

I got to the office and flipped the switch. Everything looked the way I left it and the safe still sat in one corner, untouched.

I turned off the light on my phone, then dialed the number to the safe manufacturer.

“Hi, I can’t get into my safe. I was told you could give me a code?”

“Do you have the serial number?” the man on the other end asked.

“Just a moment.” I placed the phone down, then took one side of the safe with both hands and pulled. The safe groaned as it slid across the ground. I reached around to peer behind it and saw a set of numbers on a sticker at the back. I grabbed my phone then read the numbers off.

“Hold one moment, please,” the man said.

I moved the safe back as I waited.

“What’s the name under?” the man asked.

“Roman Martel. But I’m his daughter, Eve Martel, and it belongs to me now, since he’s gone.”

“You have to sign out a form. Can you do that?”

“Yes. I can.”

He sent me a file through the email I provided, and I looked it over on my phone. I filled it out to the best of my ability with my father’s information along with my own. Some were security questions I had to answer but thankfully, this time, they were incredibly easy, like my brother’s birthday and what city we were born in. When I finished, I sent the file back.

I was put on hold after. I paced around the office, feeling like at any moment someone was going to come in and stop me.

Fifteen minutes later, he returned. “Alright, you’re clear,” he said. He told me each number slowly, and I plugged them in. My heart jumped as the safe clicked. I pulled down on the lever and the safe opened.

I was so excited I dropped my phone, leaving the man to wonder whether it had worked. The door swung open and—

Nothing. There was nothing.

It was empty. I reached in, pawing around, cursing. No folders or papers, nothing.

Then my hand hit something on the top shelf. I grabbed it and pulled it out.

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