Chapter 18 - The Empty WorkshopOliver called Sofia immediately.
She told him to preserve the messages and report the renewed threat to law enforcement.
He forwarded both screenshots and went to the sheriff's office.
Investigator Ian Mercer took the supplemental report.
Mercer was in his late forties, with a calm manner that made him seem almost indifferent until he began asking precise questions.
"Who do you think sent these?" he asked.
"I suspect someone connected to the marina."
"Why?"
"Because the messages refer to what happened there."
"Do you have evidence identifying the sender?"
"No."
Mercer nodded.
"Then we'll keep the distinction clear."
Oliver appreciated the approach.
Too many people had already treated suspicion as fact.
Mercer asked about the earlier message, the timing of Oliver's termination, and the disputed financial records.
He explained that the broader business allegations might involve separate investigative steps and possibly additional agencies.
He made no promises about arrests.
But he took the messages seriously.
That evening, Oliver returned to his house shortly after eight.
The front door was closed.
Nothing looked wrong from the driveway.
Then he noticed the porch light.
He always left it on when he expected to come home after dark.
Tonight it was off.
Oliver stopped beside his truck.
He looked toward the window.
The curtain was slightly open.
He had left it closed.
Instead of entering, he returned to his vehicle and called the sheriff's office.
Deputies arrived and checked the house.
The back door showed signs of forced entry.
Inside, drawers had been opened, papers scattered, and the desk in Oliver's spare room disturbed.
A small portable hard drive was missing.
So was an old binder containing copies of marina maintenance schedules.
His television, tools, and wallet were untouched.
Oliver stood in the kitchen while Mercer examined the scene.
"Did the hard drive contain anything related to Whitmore Marina?" Mercer asked.
"Scanned maintenance documents."
"Do you have backups?"
"Yes."
Mercer looked up.
"Where?"
Oliver hesitated.
"With my attorney, and in a separate secure account."
"Good. Don't access or alter anything on those copies until you've preserved their current condition."
Oliver nodded.
The intrusion frightened him more than he wanted to admit.
Someone had entered his home looking for specific records.
His private life had become part of the dispute.
Lena arrived just before ten.
She had driven from the assisted-living facility after Oliver called her.
When she saw the broken door, her face went white.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine."
She embraced him anyway.
Inside, they sat at the kitchen table while a deputy finished documenting the damage.
Lena watched Oliver's hands.
They were trembling.
"You need to stay somewhere else tonight," she said.
"I can replace the lock."
"Oliver."
He looked at her.
"This isn't just about a job anymore."
"I know."
"Then stop acting like you can fix it with a wrench."
He almost smiled.
But the smile disappeared quickly.
"Someone wanted those records."
"Then let the police handle it."
"I will."
She reached across the table.
"And let someone help you."
He nodded.
The next morning, Daniel learned about the break-in from Sofia's formal preservation letter, which Oliver had authorized her to share with company counsel as part of the escalating dispute.
Daniel called Oliver.
The call went unanswered.
He left a message.
"I'm sorry this happened. I don't know who's responsible, but the company will preserve everything relevant. If there's anything I can lawfully do to assist the investigation, I will."
Then he returned to the marina.
Graham was already packing files into a leather case.
Daniel stopped in the doorway.
"Where are you going?"
"A meeting with the lender."
"Which lender?"
"North Pier."
Daniel stepped inside.
"You're not attending that meeting as the company's representative."
Graham slowly closed the case.
"Excuse me?"
"My attorney has advised that your conflicts require immediate review. Until the members decide otherwise, your authority to approve new transfers and commitments has been suspended under the emergency controls we implemented yesterday."
Graham's face hardened.
"You don't have the votes to remove me permanently."
"That will be addressed through the proper process. For now, you do not have authorization to take company records off-site."
Graham looked toward the security camera above the office door.
Daniel noticed.
"Is there something you want to say?"
Graham smiled thinly.
"You really don't understand how much of this business depends on me."
"Then it's time I learned."
Graham set the case on the desk.
But as he stepped away, Daniel saw a sheet protruding from the side pocket.
It was a payment instruction.
The account name was North Pier Holdings.
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The amount was $96,000.
And the scheduled transfer date was the following morning.
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