Chapter 8 - THE NIGHT OF THE SECOND MURDERWe escaped through the basement.

Marcus drove.

Anna sat in the back.

I held my stomach with one arm while gripping the seat with the other.

Behind us, two black SUVs tore down the road.

Julian's men.

"Can they track us?" I asked.

Marcus nodded.

"They already did."

"Where are we going?"

"Somewhere Julian cannot enter."

"Where?"

"The old family estate."

I looked at him.

"My father's house?"

"The original one."

Thirty minutes later, we reached the estate.

It had been abandoned since my father's death.

Tall iron gates.

Dead gardens.

A house hidden behind ancient trees.

Inside, dust covered everything.

But the electricity still worked.

Marcus locked every door.

Anna stood in the hall.

"This place scares me."

"It should."

I turned.

Marcus looked toward the staircase.

"Your father built this house for war."

We found his private study behind a false wall.

Inside were shelves of files.

A clock.

A safe.

And a framed photograph of me as a child.

On the desk was a letter.

My name.

I opened it.

Clara,

If you are reading this, Julian has attempted to remove you.

Do not trust the board.

Do not trust the police.

Do not trust anyone who says they are protecting you.

Your child is the only person who cannot betray you.

I stopped.

My eyes burned.

Then I saw the final line.

And Marcus will lie to you when the truth becomes dangerous.

I turned slowly.

Marcus stood behind me.

"How much?"

His face went still.

"How much will you lie to me?"

He lowered his eyes.

"I already have."

Anna stepped forward.

"What did you do?"

Marcus didn't answer.

I felt something snap inside me.

"Tell me."

He sighed.

"The man in the coffin."

My heart stopped.

"What about him?"

"He wasn't random."

"Who was he?"

"Julian's private security chief."

I stared.

"He killed him?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because the security chief tried to stop the escalator attack."

Silence.

Then Marcus said:

"And Julian killed him after."

I looked at the letter.

"My father knew."

Marcus nodded.

"Did my father know Julian would kill him?"

"No."

"Then what was the warning about?"

Marcus hesitated.

"I was the one who helped Julian get access to your medical records."

My body went cold.

Anna stepped backward.

"You..."

Marcus continued.

"I believed he wanted leverage."

"Not murder?"

"No."

"Why would you help him?"

"Because he threatened your father."

"My father was dead."

"Before he died."

"What does that mean?"

Marcus looked at me.

"Julian had evidence."

"Of what?"

"Your father had once ordered the disappearance of a witness."

I stared.

"Who?"

Marcus didn't answer.

Then someone knocked on the front door.

Three slow knocks.

Nobody moved.

Three more.

Anna whispered:

"That's him."

Marcus turned off the lights.

The knocking stopped.

Then the front door opened.

Footsteps entered.

One.

Two.

Three.

A man's voice echoed through the hall.

"Clara."

Julian.

"Come out."

I stood behind the desk.

He continued.

"I know you're here."

Silence.

"Your sister is here too."

Anna's breathing became rapid.

Julian laughed.

"You know why I need her."

I looked at Marcus.

He nodded toward the secret passage.

We moved.

The passage opened behind the library.

As we entered, a gunshot exploded behind us.

Glass shattered.

Marcus pushed me down.

"Run!"

We ran through the tunnel.

Behind us, footsteps thundered.

The passage ended at a steel door.

Marcus entered a code.

Nothing.

"What's wrong?"

He tried again.

Still nothing.

Anna looked at the keypad.

"There."

A number sequence.

Six digits.

She entered it.

The door opened.

We emerged into an old underground garage.

A black sedan was waiting.

The driver's door opened.

A woman stepped out.

I froze.

I knew her.

I had seen her on television.

She was Vanguard's chief financial officer.

And she had been missing for two days.

"Get in," she said.

"Who are you?"

She looked at me.

"I'm the woman who signed Julian's merger documents."

I stared.

"Why are you helping us?"

Her eyes dropped to my stomach.

"Because I know what your baby is worth."

Then she opened the rear door.

"Get in before Julian finds the vault."

I hesitated.

"Which vault?"

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She answered:

"The one holding your father's real will."