Chapter 10 - BEFORE THE SUNRISE
Daniel barely slept.
Samuel had insisted that he stay overnight in a guest suite above the dealership offices instead of returning to the abandoned shelter where he had been staying. At first Daniel refused. Accepting help had become difficult after years of broken promises, but Samuel reminded him that whoever had been watching the dealership already knew Daniel had become involved.
"It's safer here," Samuel had said.
Daniel finally agreed, though he left his backpack beside the bed instead of placing it in the wardrobe. The old leather key never left his pocket.
Long before sunrise, he stood by the window overlooking the empty showroom.
The blue luxury sedan rested beneath the soft security lights exactly where he had first seen it. Yesterday it had represented an impossible dream. Today it reminded him of how quickly life could change—and how easily people could mistake appearance for worth.
A quiet knock interrupted his thoughts.
Samuel entered carrying two cups of coffee.
"I remembered you always drank it black."
Daniel accepted the cup with a faint smile.
"You remembered that from twenty years ago?"
Samuel shrugged.
"I remember important things."
Daniel looked down into the coffee.
"I wish I could say the same."
Neither man spoke for a while.
Outside, the first hint of dawn began to brighten the sky.
Finally Samuel broke the silence.
"Tell me something honestly."
"What?"
"When you walked into this dealership yesterday..."
Daniel smiled sadly.
"...I only wanted to stand next to that car for one minute."
"And now?"
Daniel looked toward the parking lot where Richard's SUV was already waiting.
"Now I think that car was only the reason fate brought me here."
Samuel nodded slowly.
"I've been thinking the same thing."
Minutes later Richard joined them carrying several rolled maps.
"I checked county records until midnight."
"You found something?" Samuel asked.
Richard spread the documents across the conference table.
"The warehouse still exists."
Daniel leaned closer.
"I thought it would've been demolished."
"So did everyone else."
Richard pointed to the ownership records.
"It hasn't changed hands in twenty-three years."
"Who owns it?"
Richard paused.
"That's the strange part."
The ownership field contained only a single word.
Trust.
No company.
No family name.
No registered individual.
Just one word.
Daniel stared at it.
"My father created a trust?"
Richard slowly shook his head.
"I don't think so."
Samuel narrowed his eyes.
"Then someone wanted to hide who really owns that building."
Before anyone could continue, Ryan hurried into the room.
"They're here."
Samuel frowned.
"Who?"
Ryan looked nervous.
May you like
"The reporters."
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