Chapter 2 - The Report That Should Not Exist
Julian stared at the document.
Ava watched him read.
For the first time since she had entered the building, the powerful CEO looked genuinely unsettled.
The report carried Crosswell Development’s logo.
At the top was a relocation assessment for 1847 West Briar Street.
According to the report, twenty-seven apartments were vacant.
According to Ava, they weren't.
“My apartment is listed as vacant,” she said.
Julian looked up.
“Your apartment?”
“Yes.”
He scanned the page again.
“Unit 4B.”
“That’s mine.”
“You live there?”
“I have for six years.”
His jaw tightened.
Ava placed another document beside the first.
“My father lives in 2A.”
Julian looked at her.
“He's been there twenty-six years.”
The room became silent.
Ava pointed to another line.
“His apartment is listed as vacant too.”
Julian picked up the second page.
The handwriting in the margin was faint.
Ava had circled it.
“Do you recognize that?”
Julian studied it.
“No.”
“Your property manager does.”
He looked toward Noah.
“Call Daniel Price.”
Noah immediately reached for his phone.
Ava sat quietly.
Julian noticed her expression.
“You came here knowing this.”
“Yes.”
“And you still applied for a job.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I needed one.”
She hesitated.
“And because I thought it was easier to get inside the company than to convince someone outside it to listen.”
Julian leaned against the table.
“You think someone inside Crosswell is falsifying reports.”
“I know it.”
“You have proof?”
Ava looked at the folder.
“I have enough to make someone nervous.”
Julian’s eyes narrowed.
“Who?”
“I don't know yet.”
Noah's phone rang.
He answered.
“Daniel.”
Julian held out his hand.
Noah gave him the phone.
“Price.”
A pause.
Then Julian's expression changed.
“Who authorized the vacancy report?”
Another pause.
Julian looked at Ava.
“Come to my office.”
The call ended.
Ava followed.
Julian’s office overlooked Chicago.
She barely noticed the view.
Her father’s face kept returning to her mind.
He had spent twenty-six years in the same apartment.
His photographs were on the walls.
His wife had died there.
His daughter had grown up there.
And now a piece of paper said he had never lived there at all.
Julian stood behind his desk.
“Why didn't you go to the city?”
“I did.”
“And?”
“They said it was a private property dispute.”
“Police?”
“Not interested.”
“Attorney?”
“Too expensive.”
He looked at her.
“So you came here.”
“I came here for the interview.”
“No.”
His voice was quiet.
“You came here because you knew I would eventually see this.”
Ava didn't deny it.
Julian opened another file.
“Your employment gap.”
Her face tightened.
“My old employer closed.”
“I know.”
“You investigated me?”
“I investigate everyone who walks into my company.”
Ava crossed her arms.
“Then you know I was working in housing services.”
“I know.”
“You also know I never stopped helping tenants.”
Julian nodded.
She stepped closer.
“What you don't know is that someone has been removing complaints from the West Briar files.”
Julian looked at her.
“How do you know?”
“Because I submitted three.”
“And?”
“They disappeared.”
“Copies?”
“Yes.”
She reached into the folder.
Before she could pull them out, the office door opened.
Daniel Price walked in.
He was in his fifties, expensive suit, silver hair, perfectly calm.
His eyes landed on Ava.
For one second, his expression changed.
Fear.
Then it disappeared.
“Mr. Cross.”
Julian didn't move.
“Explain the vacancy report.”
Daniel smiled.
“Standard assessment.”
Ava spoke.
“You know that's false.”
Daniel looked at her.
“You're the tenant.”
“I'm the person whose apartment you claimed was empty.”
Daniel's smile vanished.
Julian noticed.
He looked between them.
“Leave us.”
Daniel hesitated.
Julian's voice hardened.
“I said leave.”
Daniel walked out.
Ava exhaled.
Julian turned toward the window.
“What aren't you telling me?”
She swallowed.
“My father found something in the basement.”
Julian turned.
“What?”
“A locked storage room.”
“What was inside?”
Ava looked at him.
“I don't know.”
“Why not?”
“Because my father opened it yesterday.”
She paused.
“And then someone came to our apartment that night.”
Julian's face changed.
“Who?”
Ava shook her head.
“We never saw his face.”
Julian stepped closer.
“What did he say?”
Ava's voice dropped.
“He told my father to stop looking.”
Julian stared at her.
Then his phone vibrated.
A message appeared from Noah.
Julian read it.
His face went pale.
May you like
The message contained only six words:
Someone just entered West Briar basement.
