Chapter 3 - THE MAN WITH THE SILVER RING
Rosalia noticed immediately that something was different when she entered Honey Crust that morning.
Gavin was standing behind the counter instead of in his office.
He looked exhausted.
But more importantly, he wasn't looking at her suitcase.
He was looking at her.
“Good morning,” Rosalia said cautiously.
“Morning.”
She placed the suitcase beneath the cleaning table.
Gavin walked toward her.
“I need to ask you something.”
Rosalia sighed.
“If this is about last night, I already said everything I needed to say.”
“It isn't.”
She studied him.
“Then what?”
“Does anyone know about your daughter?”
Rosalia's face changed instantly.
“Why?”
“Because I saw the photograph.”
“You weren't supposed to keep it.”
“I know.”
Rosalia reached for it.
Gavin handed it back.
“I didn't mean to invade your privacy.”
“But you did.”
“I did.”
She put the photograph into her pocket.
Then Gavin lowered his voice.
“Is Elena in danger?”
Rosalia stopped.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then she whispered, “Yes.”
Gavin felt his stomach tighten.
“From whom?”
Rosalia looked toward the employees.
Laura was preparing the display case.
Daniel was counting inventory.
The bakers were working in the kitchen.
Rosalia stepped closer to Gavin.
“My daughter's husband.”
“Elena is married?”
“She was.”
Gavin waited.
“His name is Marcus.”
“What happened?”
Rosalia looked down.
“Marcus lost his job two years ago.”
“And?”
“He became angry.”
Her voice grew quieter.
“Then angry became cruel.”
Gavin understood.
“Did he hurt her?”
Rosalia didn't answer.
She didn't need to.
Gavin looked toward the photograph in her pocket.
“And Mia?”
Rosalia's eyes filled with tears.
“He frightened the child.”
That was enough.
Gavin clenched his jaw.
“Where are they now?”
Rosalia looked at him suspiciously.
“Why do you want to know?”
“Because if someone is threatening your daughter and granddaughter, I want to know whether they're safe.”
“They're not.”
The words were barely audible.
Gavin stared at her.
“Where are they?”
Rosalia hesitated.
“An apartment on Monroe Street.”
“Does Marcus know?”
“He knows the address.”
Gavin's face hardened.
“Then you need to move them.”
“With what money?”
Gavin had no answer.
Rosalia continued working.
For the rest of the morning, Gavin kept thinking about the silver ring.
He knew exactly who wore it.
Daniel Harper.
The inventory manager.
Daniel had worked at Honey Crust for four years.
Gavin had trusted him with invoices, deliveries, supplier accounts, and inventory keys.
But there was something else.
Daniel had been the person who first warned Gavin about the missing products.
He had also been the one who repeatedly pointed toward Rosalia.
Gavin felt sick.
At lunchtime, he called Lucy.
“Don't say anything,” he said.
“What happened?”
“I think Daniel may be involved.”
There was a pause.
“Are you sure?”
“No.”
“Then don't accuse him.”
“I won't.”
“Watch him.”
Gavin hung up.
That afternoon, he deliberately told Daniel that a supplier would be delivering a large shipment the next morning.
Daniel nodded.
“Where should I store it?”
“Back storage.”
“Okay.”
Gavin watched him walk away.
At 7:40 p.m., Daniel left.
At 8:15, Rosalia finished cleaning.
At 8:30, the last baker left.
Gavin stayed in his office with the lights off.
He watched the security monitor.
Rosalia came out carrying her suitcase.
She stopped at the back door.
Then she looked around.
For a moment, Gavin thought she had seen him.
She left.
Thirty minutes later, someone entered through the back.
Gavin leaned forward.
Daniel.
He walked toward the storage room.
Gavin grabbed his phone and started recording.
Daniel unlocked the door.
He removed several boxes.
Then he placed them near the rear exit.
He was about to leave when another man appeared.
The same dark jacket.
The same silver eagle ring.
Gavin stood up.
The man turned slightly.
It was not Marcus.
Gavin didn't recognize him.
Daniel handed him the boxes.
Then the man said something.
Gavin couldn't hear it through the monitor.
The man pointed toward the street.
Daniel nodded.
Then he pointed toward the bakery.
The stranger shook his head.
He raised one finger.
Then two.
Daniel looked nervous.
Finally, the stranger walked away.
Gavin waited until the door closed.
Then he stepped out of the office.
Daniel spun around.
“Mr. Matheson?”
“What are you doing?”
Daniel went pale.
“I can explain.”
“I hope you can.”
Gavin looked at the boxes.
“What are those?”
“Old stock.”
“Old stock doesn't disappear from inventory.”
Daniel said nothing.
Gavin stepped closer.
“Who was that man?”
“I don't know.”
“Don't lie to me.”
“I swear.”
Gavin grabbed one of the boxes.
Inside were unopened packages of flour and sugar.
The bakery's missing inventory.
Daniel looked trapped.
“I didn't steal anything.”
“You just handed stolen goods to someone.”
Daniel's face collapsed.
“I had no choice.”
“Everyone has a choice.”
“You don't understand.”
“Then explain.”
Daniel looked toward the door.
“They have my brother.”
Gavin froze.
“What?”
“My younger brother.”
“Who has him?”
Daniel shook his head.
“I don't know.”
“You're lying.”
“They kidnapped him three weeks ago.”
Gavin stared at him.
“Why didn't you call the police?”
“Because they sent me a photograph.”
Daniel pulled out his phone.
The image showed a young man sitting in a dark room with his hands tied behind his back.
Gavin felt the anger leave his body.
“How much have you stolen?”
“Not much.”
“How much?”
“Maybe twelve thousand dollars worth of food and supplies.”
Gavin stared at him.
“Twelve thousand?”
“They make me take it.”
“Who?”
Daniel looked terrified.
“I don't know his name.”
“Then what do you know?”
Daniel swallowed.
“He knows about Rosalia.”
Gavin's blood ran cold.
“What does that mean?”
“He asked me about her.”
“When?”
“Two weeks ago.”
“What did he want?”
Daniel looked directly at him.
“He wanted to know where she takes the suitcase.”
Gavin's stomach dropped.
“Why?”
“I don't know.”
Daniel lowered his voice.
“But I think they're following her.”
Gavin immediately thought of Elena and Mia.
He pulled out his phone.
“I need to call Rosalia.”
Daniel grabbed his arm.
“No.”
Gavin stared at him.
“Why?”
“Because if they're watching the bakery, they'll know you suspect something.”
Gavin pulled free.
“Then what do we do?”
Daniel looked toward the dark parking lot.
“Find out who the man is.”
The next morning, Rosalia didn't come to work.
Gavin called her.
No answer.
He called again.
Still nothing.
At 9:20, Laura came running from the front door.
“Gavin!”
He rushed outside.
A small brown envelope was taped to the bakery's front window.
His name was written on it.
GAVIN MATHESON.
Inside was a single photograph.
Gavin's face went white.
It showed Rosalia walking down a sidewalk with her suitcase.
Behind her was a black SUV.
And in the rear passenger window sat little Mia.
The photograph had been taken that morning.
On the back, someone had written:
STOP LOOKING.
Gavin stared at the message.
Then his phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
A man's voice said, “You should have fired her when you had the chance.”
Gavin said nothing.
The voice continued.
“Now you've made yourself part of the problem.”
“Who are you?”
A quiet laugh came through the phone.
“Ask Rosalia what happened to her daughter five years ago.”
The call ended.
Gavin immediately called Rosalia again.
This time, she answered.
But she wasn't speaking.
Gavin could hear breathing.
Then Mia's voice whispered in the background.
“Grandma, are we going somewhere?”
Rosalia finally spoke.
“Gavin…”
May you like
Her voice was trembling.
“They found us.”
