Chapter 5 - The Mansion Goes DarkEmergency lights flickered red across the hallway.
Adrian looked at Grace.
“Stay behind me.”
She swallowed.
“Who are you?”
“Someone who should have told you the truth sooner.”
The intercom crackled.
Malcolm's voice returned.
“Adrian, I know you're here.”
Grace stared.
“Adrian?”
The beggar removed his cap.
Then slowly pulled away the false beard.
Grace's mouth fell open.
The face beneath the disguise was unmistakable.
Billboards.
Magazines.
Business channels.
The man whose name appeared in financial headlines every week.
Adrian Whitmore.
“You're…”
“Yes.”
Grace stepped backward.
“You were testing us.”
“I was.”
Her expression hardened.
“You used me.”
Adrian looked ashamed.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I didn't trust anyone.”
“And now?”
He looked at her.
“Now I don't trust anyone except you.”
A gunshot echoed from upstairs.
Grace screamed.
Adrian pulled her down.
“Stay low.”
Another shot.
Glass shattered.
Someone ran across the balcony above.
Adrian recognized Victor.
The security guard had a gun.
He wasn't protecting the house.
He was hunting inside it.
Adrian pulled Grace into a storage room.
“There is a service corridor behind that shelf.”
“You know this mansion?”
“I built it.”
Grace stared at him.
“You really are insane.”
“Probably.”
They moved.
Behind the shelf was a narrow passage.
They crawled through.
Grace whispered:
“Why would Malcolm betray you?”
“I don't know.”
“You don't know?”
“Not yet.”
“And Evelyn?”
Adrian stopped.
“What about her?”
“She warned you.”
He looked toward the darkness.
“Yes.”
They reached the underground wine cellar.
Adrian found an old monitor.
He switched on the security system.
The screen showed Malcolm entering the master bedroom.
Then Evelyn appeared.
They spoke.
Grace stared.
“Are they working together?”
Adrian watched.
Evelyn was crying.
Malcolm handed her a document.
Then she shook her head.
He grabbed her arm.
Adrian's breathing changed.
“We're going up.”
Grace grabbed him.
“No.”
“She could be in danger.”
“So could you.”
Adrian looked at her.
“Then stay here.”
Grace shook her head.
“No.”
“You could get hurt.”
“So could you.”
They stared at each other.
Then Grace said:
“I started this when I gave a beggar fruit.”
Adrian almost smiled.
“You did.”
“I'm finishing it.”
They emerged near the staircase.
Malcolm stood there.
Gun in hand.
Evelyn was behind him.
She looked directly at Adrian.
“I'm sorry.”
Malcolm turned.
His eyes widened.
“You.”
Adrian smiled.
“You really should stop leaving your doors unlocked.”
Malcolm raised the gun.
“You were never supposed to come back.”
Adrian stepped forward.
“You stole from me.”
“Yes.”
“You forged my signature.”
“Yes.”
“You planned to take my company.”
Malcolm smiled.
“No.”
Adrian frowned.
“What?”
Malcolm's smile became colder.
“You've been looking at this all wrong.”
He pointed the gun toward Grace.
“You are not my target.”
Grace froze.
Malcolm pulled a photograph from his pocket.
He held it up.
Adrian saw the picture.
It was Grace.
Standing beside a young woman.
The woman was dead.
May you like
Adrian recognized her immediately.
His sister.
