Chapter 5 - The Master Key
Richard's jaw dropped in complete horror. His knees wobbled as Marcus pulled a master access tablet from his coat, tapping the screen to bypass the restaurant’s security grid.
"Override complete, sir," Marcus reported professionally. "Feed loaded from 09:00 AM."
Julian gestured to the tablet screen, turning it toward the main dining room.
On the high-definition display, Richard Vance could clearly be seen opening the main cash register himself, taking out stack after stack of hundred-dollar bills, and slipping them directly into a brown leather briefcase before locking it in his wall safe.
The remaining staff members gasped.
"You framed her so you wouldn't have to pay her holiday bonus," Julian said, his voice dropping into a lethal, quiet growl. "And so you could pocket five hundred dollars from your own business while throwing an innocent worker into the freezing snow."
Emily stared at the screen, tears of anger and relief welling in her eyes. "You knew... you knew all along I didn't take it!"
Richard backed away slowly toward the kitchen exit. "It's my business! I can do whatever I want with my money!"
May you like
"It was your business," Julian corrected coldly. "Now, open the safe."
👉 What else did Richard hide in that safe that went far beyond stolen cash?
