Chapter 65

Chapter 65

Matteo returned to the office hours later, his expression had always been gloomy yet alert with his lips pressed together as a sense of urgency. He dropped into the chair opposite Adrian without a word, shaking his head.

“I’ve gone through everything, boss,” Matteo said finally. “Neighbors, friends, anyone who might have seen something — nothing. People aren’t willing to talk. It’s like they’ve been told to keep their mouths shut.”

Adrian didn’t flinch. He had expected this. “Then we’ll get someone who will talk,” he said quietly. “Bring Mary to me.”

Matteo’s brow furrowed. “Mary? Boss… she’s grieving. She just lost Daniel. You think she’ll even agree to come? And if she does, I doubt she’ll be able to—”

Adrian cut him off, his voice calm but firm. “Tell her it won’t take long. Just a few questions. She’ll do it.”

Matteo hesitated, searching Adrian’s face for any sign of doubt, but found none. With a reluctant nod, he stood and headed out.

The drive to Daniel’s house was quiet. Matteo’s mind wandered to the last time he’d been here, the way Daniel would greet him with a firm handshake politely and they crack jokes over wine before going into business. Now, the house seemed colder, emptier, though it was still crowded with neighbors and sympathizers. People had come to offer their condolences, but the mood was heavy, and subdued.

Matteo parked a short distance away and approached the front door. He knocked firmly, his hand lingering on the wood. The door creaked open, and there she was. Mary.

Her eyes were red and swollen from crying, her cheeks streaked, with her hair slightly disheveled. She barely looked at Matteo, but when recognition hit, her eyes widened for a brief moment.

“Matteo,” she said quietly, her voice trembling.

He offered her a small nod, with his expression solemn. “Mrs. Cortez. I’m sorry for your loss. Adrian… he wanted me to bring you somewhere.”

Mary blinked, taking a shaky breath, her lips pressed together. She gave a faint nod and stepped outside. The neighbors watched in silence, some murmuring soft condolences, others simply staring. She gestured toward them, her lips moving as if she was saying she’d be back soon. Her people didn’t protest, simply watched her leave with quiet acceptance.

Matteo guided her gently toward the car. “Adrian wants to see you,” he said, keeping his tone neutral, careful not to alarm her.

Mary wiped at her tears with the back of her hand. “Why? What for?” she asked softly, almost to herself. Her voice held the weariness of someone dragged through a storm she hadn’t wanted to face.

Matteo shrugged slightly. “I don’t know. He says it won’t take long. Just a few questions.”

She sighed, her shoulders sagging, and climbed into the car. Her hands rested in her lap, fingers laced together tightly. She didn’t speak again for the remainder of the drive. Matteo kept his eyes on the road, driving carefully, but alert. He didn’t want to risk giving her any reason to panic.

When they arrived at Adrian’s office, the tension in the car was almost palpable. Matteo guided her into the building quietly. The receptionist offered a brief nod of sympathy, and then they were led into the elevator. Mary gripped the rail lightly, her jaw tight, eyes downcast filled with tears.

The elevator doors opened to Adrian’s floor. He stood as they entered, the faintest trace of concern on his otherwise controlled face. He took a step toward Mary as she came into view.

“Mrs. Cortez,” he said, his voice low and measured. “I… I’m very sorry for your loss.”

Mary acknowledged his words with a slight nod, blinking rapidly to hold back her tears. She tried to steady her breathing, to compose herself. Adrian could see the tension in her body, the stiffness of her hands resting against the chair.

He gestured toward a seat. “Please… have a seat. I don’t want to take much of your time. I just need to ask you a few questions.”

Mary shifted slightly, taking the offered chair, her fingers tightening around her knees. “I… I understand,” she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. She swallowed hard, a faint shiver running through her, as if the weight of the last few hours still clung to her.

Adrian leaned slightly against the edge of his desk, his gaze steady on her. He wanted to appear calm, controlled, but also reassuring, aware that Mary was fragile, and he couldn’t push too hard. Yet, there was urgency beneath it all — questions that couldn’t wait, clues that couldn’t be ignored.

“I know this isn’t easy,” he said, careful, measured. “I don’t want to force you into anything. I just… need to understand what happened. Anything you remember, anything you think might help.”

Mary nodded slowly, her eyes flicking to the window, then back to him. “I…” She paused, her throat tight, and then shook her head slightly. “I don’t know if I can… remember anything clearly. My mind… it’s all…” She trailed off, letting the weight of her grief hang in the room.

Adrian gave a small, subtle nod. “I understand. Take your time. Nothing you say will make things worse. I just… need your help to know the truth.”

Her eyes met his briefly, a spark of hesitant trust there. She seemed to understand that he wasn’t here to accuse or intimidate, at least not yet. She drew in a shaky breath, her fingers twisting in her lap, and then looked down again.

“I… I remember that day,” she said finally, voice low. “Daniel… he seemed… worried. Not about anything we talked about. Something else. He… he didn’t tell me. He… just… kept looking at the papers, making notes. He asked questions, but always in whispers. He… he said he needed to be careful.”

Adrian’s gaze sharpened slightly, but he stayed silent, letting her continue. Every word was another thread to pull, another piece of the puzzle.

Matteo stood a few steps back with his arms crossed, watching the exchange. He could feel the tension in the room, the undercurrent of danger beneath the polite words. Every second here mattered — every hesitation, every inflection could reveal something important.

Mary’s eyes flicked toward Matteo briefly, then back to Adrian. “I didn’t understand it then,” she said softly. “I… I didn’t know why he was so quiet, why he seemed… afraid. I thought it was just work. But now…” She swallowed hard. Her voice cracked. “I don’t know who to trust. I don’t know what he found… or who did this.”

Adrian kept his voice steady, neutral, but careful to convey seriousness. “Mary, I need you to tell me everything Daniel mentioned — names, shipments, anything unusual. I need to know if he ever said something that could have put him in danger.”

Mary shook her head, eyes filling with tears again. “I… I don’t remember names. He… he only spoke in fragments sometimes. He… he just kept telling me, ‘I have to be careful. I have to be careful.’ I… I thought it was just stress. I never imagined… this.” Her voice faltered completely, a quiet sob escaping. She quickly wiped it away, trying to compose herself.

Adrian nodded, acknowledging her grief, but the wheels in his mind were already turning. Every word, every pause, every tremor in her voice was a clue. He knew there was something Daniel had uncovered — something dangerous. He just needed to tease it out carefully, without pushing her too far.

“I understand, Mrs. Cortez,” he said quietly. “I know this is difficult. I don’t want to hurt you. I just… I need to know what he knew.”

Mary looked at him, swallowing hard, her hands clasped together tightly in her lap. Her chest rose and fell quickly, like she was trying to steady herself against the wave of grief. She gave a small nod. “I’ll… I’ll try. I want… I want to help.”

Adrian offered a faint, reassuring nod. “Thank you. That’s all I ask. Just… tell me what you remember, even if it’s small. Anything.”

Mary exhaled shakily, looking down, as if gathering courage. “I… I remember he mentioned a shipment… something unusual. He didn’t tell me details, just that he had to check it, make sure it was right. And… and that he didn’t trust someone he worked with.”

Adrian’s gaze sharpened. “Did he ever say who?”

Mary shook her head, eyes wide. “No… he said he had to be careful. He told me not to ask questions. He… he looked scared once. Just once. He… he said I wouldn’t understand. I… I didn’t press him.”

Adrian exhaled slowly, leaning back slightly, his mind racing. That single fragment — that one moment of fear — was enough to confirm that Daniel had seen something. Someone had wanted to silence him.

Mary blinked, wiping at her tears, trying to steady her hands. She looked up at Adrian, her voice small and trembling. “I… I just want to know… why? Why him? Why did this happen?”

Adrian’s jaw tightened. He didn’t answer immediately, the weight of the moment settling in. He had answers, but not all of them yet. He didn’t want to frighten her further, not yet. He needed more — the rest would come in time.

“I’m… I’m sorry,” he said finally with a low but firm voice. “I wish I could tell you why, but I can’t yet. I just need you to trust me for now. Can you do that?”

Mary nodded slowly, tears brimming but held back. Her hands shook slightly in her lap. “I… I’ll try,” she whispered.

Adrian gave a slight nod, his eyes lingering on her, reading her carefully. He had more questions, more threads to pull, but he would take them one step at a time. Pushing her too hard now could ruin everything.

The room was quiet, save for Mary’s soft breathing. Matteo shifted slightly behind her, sensing the tension, ready to step in if needed.

Adrian rose from his desk, walking a small circle to keep his mind sharp, thinking ahead. He knew the answers were here — hidden between her words, in her pauses, in the hesitation of grief. It was a delicate balance.

Finally, Adrian stopped, standing in front of the desk, looking down at Mary. His tone softened slightly, still carrying weight. “Thank you, Mrs. Cortez. That’s enough for now. I won’t keep you longer than you can bear. Just… stay available. I may need to ask you a few more things.”

Mary nodded silently, eyes wide and apprehensive. She didn’t speak. She just sat there, trying to compose herself while the weight of the day pressed down on her.

Adrian gave a faint, almost imperceptible nod toward Matteo. “Take her back. And Matteo…”

“Yes, boss?”

“Be careful. Watch her reactions. Someone wants to keep her silent too, I can feel it.”

Matteo’s jaw tightened, and he gave a solemn nod. “Understood.”

Mary stood slowly, her body tense but obedient, and followed Matteo toward the door. Adrian watched her leave, the quiet click of the door marking the end of this first round of questioning.

He sat back at his desk, staring at the empty chair across from him. The fragments of information she had given were small, but they were enough to confirm what he already suspected: Daniel had uncovered something dangerous. And now, someone knew Adrian was onto them.