Chapter 2 - The police officers barely looked at Adrian.One of them climbed out of the cruiser and spoke to Victor.
“Problem?”
Victor pointed.
“Homeless trespasser.”
The officer approached Adrian.
“Sir, you need to leave the property.”
Adrian almost laughed.
His property.
His gates.
His security system.
His house.
Yet no one knew who he was.
That was exactly what he wanted.
Mostly.
He lowered his head.
“I was only asking for food.”
The officer sighed.
“Come on.”
Then Grace stepped forward.
“He didn't hurt anyone.”
Victor glared at her.
“Stay out of this.”
Grace's face went pale.
The officer looked between them.
“Is he violent?”
“No,” Grace said.
Victor answered at the same time.
“He attacked the gate staff.”
Adrian looked at Victor.
The lie came so easily.
That frightened him more than the shove.
The officer reached for Adrian's arm.
Then Adrian spoke quietly.
“Check the camera.”
Victor froze.
“What?”
“The camera above the gate.”
The officer looked up.
“There is one.”
Victor's face changed.
“It's offline.”
Adrian smiled.
Interesting.
He knew the security cameras had independent power.
They did not simply go offline.
Someone had disabled that one.
The officer frowned.
“Let's just move on.”
Adrian allowed himself to be guided away.
But before leaving, he glanced at Grace.
She stood silently.
Her expression was almost apologetic.
As Adrian crossed the road, he heard footsteps behind him.
Grace.
She was following him.
“Sir.”
Adrian stopped.
“What?”
She looked around.
Then whispered:
“Don't come back through the front gate.”
“Why?”
“I can't explain here.”
“You said someone wants me dead.”
Grace's eyes widened.
“I don't know who you are.”
Adrian watched her carefully.
“You're sure?”
“Yes.”
“Then why did you say that?”
Grace hesitated.
“Because I heard something.”
“What?”
Her hands trembled.
“Mr. Whitmore's mother was speaking to Mr. Reed.”
Adrian's stomach tightened.
Malcolm.
His oldest advisor.
His closest friend.
Grace continued.
“They thought no one could hear them.”
“What did they say?”
Grace looked toward the mansion.
“They said…”
She swallowed.
“They said the funeral should happen before anyone realizes Mr. Whitmore is missing.”
Adrian felt something cold settle inside him.
His disappearance was known.
That was expected.
But a funeral?
Before anyone knew he was alive?
Impossible.
Unless they intended to announce his death.
“Did you hear anything else?”
Grace nodded.
“They were discussing his will.”
Adrian stared at her.
“My will?”
Grace looked confused.
“Yes.”
Then she whispered:
“They said the original one had already been destroyed.”
Adrian's heart stopped.
He had changed his will six months earlier.
Only four people knew.
Malcolm.
His attorney.
His mother.
And Adrian himself.
The new will had one important change.
His entire controlling interest in Whitmore Global Holdings would not go to his family.
Instead, it would create a trust.
And the trustees would be independent.
If the will had been destroyed, someone wanted the old inheritance structure restored.
Adrian turned away.
“Grace.”
“Yes?”
“Why are you telling me this?”
Her eyes filled with fear.
“Because I think I'm next.”
That night, Adrian rented a cheap motel room twenty miles from the estate.
The room smelled like bleach and old cigarettes.
He sat alone at the window and removed the fake beard.
Then the wig.
Then the dirty coat.
Underneath, he wore ordinary clothes.
He took out his burner phone.
One call.
Malcolm answered after two rings.
“Where are you?”
Adrian said nothing.
Malcolm continued.
“Adrian?”
“I need a favor.”
“What kind?”
“Tell me about my will.”
Silence.
A long silence.
Then Malcolm asked:
“Why?”
“Just answer.”
Another pause.
“The old version is still valid.”
“That wasn't my question.”
Malcolm's breathing changed.
Adrian said quietly:
“Who has access to the new version?”
Malcolm replied:
“Adrian, you need to come home.”
“Why?”
“Because there are things you need to see.”
Adrian stood.
“What things?”
Malcolm lowered his voice.
“I'll explain when you're here.”
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
“You sound nervous.”
“I'm not nervous.”
“You are.”
Malcolm said nothing.
Adrian looked out at the parking lot.
Then he noticed a black SUV across the street.
Engine running.
Lights off.
Someone was watching the motel.
He ended the call.
The SUV moved.
Adrian grabbed his coat.
He left through the bathroom window.
By the time he reached the alley, his phone buzzed.
A text.
Unknown number.
STOP DIGGING.
Then another.
YOU WERE WARNED.
Adrian stared at the screen.
A third message arrived.
GRACE WON'T SURVIVE YOUR RETURN.
Adrian's expression hardened.
He deleted the messages.
Then typed one word.
Who are you?
May you like
The reply came instantly.
Ask your mother.
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