Chapter 5 - THE WARNING AT HER SISTER'S DOOR|
By lunchtime, Khloe's promotion celebration felt like something that had happened to another person.
Her phone had not stopped ringing.
Harborline's legal department wanted a statement.
The information security team wanted to interview her about her credentials.
Marianne wanted everything documented.
And Detective Morales wanted copies of the threats against her.
Khloe cooperated with each request.
She refused to change a single detail simply because someone suggested a more convenient explanation.
At 1:12 p.m., Dana called.
Khloe answered immediately.
“Is Maddie okay?”
There was a pause.
“She's fine.”
Something in Dana's voice made Khloe sit upright.
“What happened?”
“Liam came here.”
The office seemed to tilt.
“When?”
“About twenty minutes ago.”
“Did you open the door?”
“No.”
“Dana.”
“I looked through the peephole.”
Khloe pressed her hand against her forehead.
“What did he want?”
“He said he needed to speak to you.”
“Did you tell him where I was?”
“Of course not.”
Dana's breathing became uneven.
“Khloe, he knew Maddie's school.”
For several seconds, Khloe couldn't speak.
Her niece was eight years old.
She loved drawing purple horses, collecting stickers, and asking questions that adults often struggled to answer.
She had nothing to do with Liam.
Nothing.
“What exactly did he say?”
“He said it would be terrible if family problems started affecting innocent people.”
Khloe rose so quickly that her chair rolled backward.
“Call the police.”
“I already did.”
“Good.”
“The officers are on their way.”
“Keep the door locked.”
“Khloe, I'm scared.”
Those words broke something inside her.
Dana had always been the strong one.
She was the sister who showed up with groceries when Khloe couldn't afford them.
The sister who stayed all night while Khloe packed Liam's things.
The sister who reminded her that love wasn't supposed to make a person afraid.
Now that same woman was frightened because of Khloe's past.
“I'll be there as soon as I can,” Khloe said.
She informed Marianne that she had a family emergency and left.
Twenty minutes later, she reached Dana's townhouse.
Two police officers were speaking with her sister in the living room.
Maddie was upstairs with a neighbor.
Khloe hugged Dana so tightly that neither could speak.
The officers documented Liam's visit and advised them about additional protective measures.
Detective Morales later confirmed that the incidents could be considered together as part of the ongoing investigation.
Khloe gave another statement.
Then she sat beside Dana at the kitchen table.
“I should have told you how bad things were,” she whispered.
Dana shook her head.
“You left him.”
“I thought that would be enough.”
“Leaving was the right thing.”
Khloe stared at her bruised wrist.
“Why does he still think he owns me?”
Dana took her hand carefully.
“Because he never understood that you were a person instead of something he could control.”
Khloe's eyes filled with tears.
For the first time since the restaurant, she allowed herself to cry.
Not because she wanted Liam back.
Not because she regretted leaving.
But because she was exhausted from living as though every peaceful moment needed to be defended.
That evening, Victor Russo called.
Khloe considered ignoring him.
Then she answered.
“Ms. Hayes?”
“Victor.”
“Your company's attorney informed mine that the shipment transfer has been suspended.”
“Good.”
“I'm also told Northstar's contractor records may be relevant to your police report.”
“They are.”
There was a brief silence.
“Are you safe?”
Khloe looked at Dana, who was helping Maddie with a puzzle in the next room.
“Yes.”
“Is that the answer you want to give, or the truth?”
She almost laughed.
“You ask uncomfortable questions.”
“So do you.”
Khloe hesitated.
“Liam threatened my sister today.”
Victor said nothing for a moment.
When he finally spoke, his voice had changed.
“Have you informed the police?”
“Yes.”
“Then let them handle him.”
Khloe was surprised.
“I thought you were going to offer to take care of him.”
“I could.”
Her chest tightened.
“But that would make your situation more dangerous, not less.”
She hadn't expected that answer.
Victor continued.
“My security director can conduct a lawful safety review of your residence if you want one.”
“No one follows me.”
“Agreed.”
“No one frightens Liam on my behalf.”
“Agreed.”
“And I don't owe you anything for helping.”
His answer was immediate.
“Correct.”
Khloe exhaled slowly.
“Then you can give me the security director's number.”
His name was Nico Santoro.
He had worked for Victor for eleven years and spoke with the disciplined calm of a former military security specialist.
He arranged to have Dana's exterior cameras checked and advised Khloe about documenting future contact, all with their permission.
Nothing dramatic happened.
No black vehicles appeared outside anyone's home.
No men arrived to intimidate Liam.
For a few hours, Khloe almost felt normal.
Then, at 10:38 p.m., her phone rang again.
This time, the caller was Jules.
“Khloe, are you sitting down?”
“What's wrong?”
“I received an automated compliance alert before my access was restricted.”
Khloe straightened.
“What kind of alert?”
“The Northstar shipment.”
“I thought Victor stopped it.”
“He stopped the transfer authorization in the corporate system.”
“Okay?”
Jules swallowed audibly.
“But someone used a physical warehouse access credential before the hold reached the night supervisor.”
Khloe felt her pulse quicken.
“When?”
“About twenty minutes ago.”
“Who?”
“Liam Price.”
Khloe closed her eyes.
Jules continued.
“His badge was used to enter the Calumet storage facility.”
“Maybe he was going to work.”
“Khloe.”
Jules paused.
“The security system reported the fire door being forced open six minutes later.”
Cold dread traveled down Khloe's spine.
May you like
Then Jules said the words that made her reach for Victor's business card.
“And the warehouse cameras just went dark.”
