Chapter 6 - THE ROOM BENEATH THE OFFICE
My father's old office had been sealed since his death.
The building was now owned by another company, but my mother still possessed one key.
She gave it to me without speaking.
We entered at midnight.
Dust covered everything.
The desk remained untouched.
My father's chair still faced the window.
Evelyn stayed beside me.
My mother stood across the room.
For the first time in six years, she looked old.
“I lied to both of you,” she said.
“Why?”
“Because Victor threatened to kill you.”
“You should have told me.”
“I tried.”
“When?”
“After your father died.”
She explained that my father had discovered Victor's financial crimes.
Victor retaliated.
He arranged the crash that killed my father.
My mother witnessed the aftermath.
“She was afraid,” I said.
“Yes.”
“Then why did you help him?”
“I didn't.”
She looked at Evelyn.
“I protected her.”
Evelyn's eyes widened.
“What?”
“My people moved you before Victor could find you.”
“But you told me Marcus wanted nothing to do with me.”
“I needed you to disappear.”
“You could have told me the truth.”
“If Victor believed you and Marcus were together, he would have killed him.”
I stared at my mother.
“Then why didn't you tell me afterward?”
She looked down.
“Because by then the trust had activated.”
I frowned.
“And you were afraid?”
“Yes.”
“Of what?”
“That Victor would use your children against you.”
Silence.
My mother walked toward the desk.
“There is a room beneath this office.”
She pressed a hidden panel.
A section of wall opened.
A narrow staircase descended.
We followed.
At the bottom was a steel door.
Inside were boxes.
Files.
Photographs.
Recordings.
Everything my father had collected.
Evidence against Victor.
Evidence against my mother.
Evidence against people inside the government.
But one box had my name.
I opened it.
Inside was a video recording.
My father appeared on screen.
He looked tired.
“Marcus, if you're watching this, I failed to protect you.”
I couldn't breathe.
He continued.
“Your mother will tell you she betrayed you. Don't believe her completely.”
I looked at Eleanor.
She was crying.
My father continued.
“Victor has infiltrated the company. He believes control of the trust will make him untouchable.”
Then he said something that changed everything.
“But Victor isn't the greatest threat.”
The recording paused.
My father leaned toward the camera.
“Someone closer to Marcus is helping him.”
The screen went black.
I stared at my mother.
“Who?”
She shook her head.
“I don't know.”
Then the lights went out.
A gunshot exploded upstairs.
Evelyn screamed.
I grabbed her hand.
“Stay behind me.”
Another shot.
Then silence.
We climbed the stairs.
The office was empty.
But the window was open.
On the desk lay a note.
YOU WERE NEVER SUPPOSED TO FIND THE SECOND RECORDING.
I turned.
“What second recording?”
My mother looked terrified.
“There was another.”
“Where?”
May you like
She whispered:
“Your father's grave.”
