Chapter 6 - The Dead ManFor seventeen years, Evelyn Sterling had believed her father dead.
At least, that was the story.
Now she admitted she had never seen his body.
“He vanished,” she said.
Victor looked furious.
“You told me he was buried.”
“I thought he was.”
“Who told you?”
“Arthur.”
Everything suddenly fit.
Arthur had lied about my father.
He had lied about my grandfather.
He had lied about the ledger.
And now we had learned he had lied about his own father.
We found the man's name in an old archive.
Edmund Vance.
Former financier.
Architect of the original network.
Officially dead for seventeen years.
Unofficially, alive.
And apparently running everything.
My father stared at the photograph.
“He's the one.”
“The one what?”
“The man who gave the order.”
“What order?”
Victor's voice became quiet.
“To erase me.”
I swallowed.
“Why?”
“Because I refused to work for him.”
The safe house shook from another explosion.
Security officers shouted.
Victor stood.
“We're leaving.”
“Where?”
“To the courthouse.”
“Why?”
“Because Arthur is going there.”
“How do you know?”
Victor looked at me.
“Because he thinks the evidence is still there.”
We drove through the city under heavy escort.
The courthouse was surrounded by police.
Arthur had escaped less than an hour earlier.
Yet somehow he was already inside.
We entered through a secured entrance.
The judge's chambers were empty.
On the desk sat one envelope.
My name on it.
I opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
Me at six years old.
Standing beside Arthur.
On the back:
YOU SHOULD HAVE ASKED WHY HE CHOSE YOU.
I looked at Victor.
“What does this mean?”
He took the photo.
Then suddenly understood.
“He wasn't your stepfather by accident.”
My throat tightened.
“What?”
“Arthur married your mother because he needed access to you.”
I stared at the photograph.
“He planned it.”
“Yes.”
The chamber door closed behind us.
A voice came through the speaker.
“You're getting close.”
Victor spun.
“Edmund.”
A laugh.
“You finally remember me.”
Victor moved toward the control panel.
“What do you want?”
“Lena.”
“No.”
“She belongs to the trust.”
“She belongs to herself.”
The voice became colder.
“You were always sentimental, Victor.”
Then the screens inside the courtroom flickered on.
A video appeared.
Arthur Sterling stood in front of a camera.
Blood covered his collar.
He looked exhausted.
Beside him stood Julian.
And behind them…
A man I had never seen.
Older.
Silver hair.
Black suit.
Cold eyes.
Edmund.
My grandfather.
He looked directly into the camera.
“Lena.”
I couldn't breathe.
“You have inherited what your family created.”
Victor stepped forward.
“You will never get it.”
Edmund smiled.
“I already have.”
The video changed.
Bank accounts.
Property deeds.
Trust documents.
My name appeared repeatedly.
Edmund continued:
“Every asset your grandfather placed under the family trust will become transferable at midnight.”
Victor's expression hardened.
“What happens at midnight?”
Edmund smiled.
“The trust closes.”
I stared at the screen.
“And?”
“Your inheritance disappears.”
Victor turned toward me.
“That's impossible.”
Edmund laughed.
“Not if Lena signs the transfer.”
I understood.
They had one final goal.
Me.
And the clock was running.
Then Julian appeared on the screen.
He held a gun against Arthur's head.
Arthur's eyes widened.
“What are you doing?”
Julian smiled.
“Making sure everyone understands the rules.”
Edmund looked into the camera.
“Bring Lena to the old Vance estate before midnight.”
Victor shook his head.
“No.”
Edmund's voice softened.
“Then Arthur dies.”
Julian pulled the hammer back.
Arthur screamed.
“Wait!”
The screen went black.
I looked at Victor.
“What do we do?”
He stared at the clock.
Eight hours until midnight.
May you like
Then he said:
“We go hunting.”
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