Chapter 10: The Last Piece
The DA's meeting was at nine the following morning.
Mason arrived early.
Carol was already there, her briefcase open, documents arranged in order on the conference table.
The assistant district attorney was a woman named Patricia Holt.
She was direct, unhurried, and asked questions the way someone does when they already know most of the answers and are checking the gaps.
She went through the documentation methodically.
Joanne's six pages.
The server archive emails.
Gerald's written statement.
The Crestline Provisions registration.
The forged signature.
Brandon's text messages.
Frank's file on the original Soll termination.
Ray Cobb's employment record and forwarding address.
When she finished, she set her pen down.
"Mr.
Vance.
The text messages from Brandon Cole's phone are the most significant piece here.
If they can be attributed to Soll's number, you have direct communication between the scheme's architect and an employee inside the hotel.
Combined with the forged contracts and the ghost company, that's a strong fraud case."
"And the intimidation of Joanne Parker?" Mason asked.
"The email Soll sent her before her termination, combined with the hospital visit and the original grievance naming her — that's a pattern.
Whether it rises to criminal intimidation will depend on what we find when we pull his records." Patricia looked at her notes.
"The hospital visit is the most troubling element.
If we can establish he was there and that he knew she was the one who had reported him twice, the DA's office will look at this very seriously."
"What happens next?"
"We execute a search warrant on Soll's residence and devices.
We bring in Ray Cobb for questioning — his Austin address is still active.
And we formally interview Gerald Pruitt with his attorney present." She paused.
"Brandon Cole's cooperation will significantly affect how his own liability is assessed.
His attorney has already indicated he'll provide a full account."
Mason nodded.
"One question," Patricia said.
"The victim, Joanne Parker.
Is she in a position to give a statement?"
"She's recovering from a stroke.
Her speech is clear.
She's alert." Mason looked at Carol.
"I'd want her to have legal representation before she speaks to anyone officially."
"Of course." Patricia closed her folder.
"We'll move on the warrant today."
Mason and Carol walked out of the building into the pale morning light.
"It's moving," Carol said.
"Yes."
"How are you feeling about it?"
Mason thought about the question.
"I keep thinking about the two years," he said.
"Two years between the first time Joanne stopped him and the second time.
He spent two years building something designed to be invisible.
And she found it in a few months just by paying attention to what she was cooking."
Carol looked at him.
"Some people are just that careful about their work."
"She was." He paused.
"She almost paid for it with her life."
Carol didn't answer that.
There wasn't much to say.
Mason's phone rang.
It was the nurse from room fourteen.
"Mr.
Vance.
Ms.
Parker asked me to call you.
She said to tell you she remembered something she forgot to mention yesterday." A pause.
"She said the email from Mr.
Soll — she printed it.
She kept the printout at home.
She said it has the full header information, including the IP address it was sent from."
Mason stopped walking.
"She printed it."
"Yes, sir.
She said it's in a folder in her kitchen drawer.
Her mother has a key to the apartment."
Mason looked at Carol.
Carol was already reaching for her phone.
Three hours later, the printed email was in Patricia Holt's hands.
The IP address traced to a registered address in Alamo Heights.
The same address the DMV had on file for Derek Soll.
The warrant was executed that afternoon.
Mason was not there for the arrest.
He didn't need to be.
Carol called him while he was sitting in his truck outside the Grand Crest, looking at the front entrance where, that same morning — though it felt like much longer — a girl in a thin jacket had been standing near a column with a worn-out backpack.
"They have him," Carol said.
"His devices were seized.
Ray Cobb is being brought in from Austin for questioning.
Gerald Pruitt's attorney called — Gerald is prepared to give a full statement." A pause.
"It's done, Mason."
He sat with that for a moment.
"What about Joanne?" he asked.
"Her attorney — I've already arranged one — will coordinate her statement for next week when she's stronger." Carol's voice was quieter now.
"She's going to be alright."
Mason looked at the hotel entrance.
"I want to offer her the head cook position," he said.
"When she's recovered.
Full salary, benefits, and a written employment contract reviewed by her attorney before she signs anything."
Carol was quiet for a moment.
"That's a good thing to do."
"It's the right thing to do." He paused.
"And I want the kitchen named after her.
Not a plaque.
An actual name.
The Joanne Parker Kitchen.
On the menu, on the door, everywhere."
"She may not want that."
"Then I'll ask her.
But I want her to know the offer is real."
May you like
He ended the call and sat for another minute.
Then he got out of the truck and walked into his hotel.
