His hand shook slightly as he inserted it into the heavy brass padlock.

He turned it, and the lock clicked open with a heavy, metallic sound.

Julian pulled the metal shutter up.

The unit was small, about the size of a walk-in closet.

Inside sat a single, heavy oak desk that had belonged to Julian’s father.

On top of the desk was a black leather briefcase.

“Is this it?” Lydia asked, stepping into the unit.

“This is it,” Julian said.

Martin Bell stepped in beside her. “My client maintains that these are personal family items with no monetary value.”

Lydia didn’t answer. She opened the briefcase.

Inside were stacks of bound papers.

I walked closer, looking over her shoulder.

They were stock certificates for a holding company registered in Delaware.

“Blackwood Enterprises LLC,” Lydia read aloud. “Established three months ago. Controlling forty percent of the marketing firm’s digital assets.”

She looked at Martin Bell.

Martin’s face went completely pale.

He turned to Julian, his jaw tight.

“Julian,” Martin said. “You told me those assets were liquidated to pay the firm’s creditors.”