Chapter 11 - The FactoryRain hammered the roof.
The factory stood in darkness.
Maxwell entered through the broken gate.
Clara followed.
“I told you to stay in the car.”
“You also told me this wasn't my fight.”
“It isn't.”
She looked at him.
“My father's name is on it.”
Maxwell said nothing.
They stepped inside.
The factory smelled of oil and wet metal.
Broken machines stood everywhere.
Maxwell moved slowly.
A light flickered above them.
Then a voice spoke.
“Maxwell.”
Lolo.
He turned.
“Mum?”
Her hands were tied.
She was sitting on a chair.
Alexander stood behind her.
Two armed men stood nearby.
Clara whispered.
“Don't.”
Alexander smiled.
“You brought her exactly what I wanted.”
Maxwell stared.
“The key.”
Alexander shook his head.
“Not anymore.”
He looked at Lolo.
“Your mother already gave it to me.”
Maxwell's eyes widened.
Lolo shook her head.
“I didn't.”
Alexander smiled.
“Then we'll see.”
He pulled a phone from his pocket.
On the screen was a recording of Lolo opening the drawer where she kept the key.
Maxwell stared.
It had been recorded earlier.
Alexander had been watching the house.
He knew everything.
“Give me the trust key.”
Maxwell said nothing.
Alexander raised the gun.
“Your mother dies.”
Lolo shouted.
“No, Maxi!”
Maxwell reached into his pocket.
He removed the microchip.
Clara looked at him.
“Maxwell…”
Alexander smiled.
“Good boy.”
Then an alarm suddenly sounded.
Police lights appeared outside.
Alexander's smile disappeared.
“What?”
Maxwell stepped back.
“You forgot something.”
“What?”
“The bank records.”
Alexander's face changed.
Maxwell continued.
“Esther gave copies to the police.”
“You wouldn't.”
“She did.”
Alexander grabbed Lolo.
“Kill them.”
The armed men lifted their weapons.
Then the factory lights exploded.
Total darkness.
Maxwell grabbed Clara.
They ducked behind a machine.
Gunshots echoed through the building.
Lolo screamed.
Then silence.
Emergency lights came on.
One of Alexander's men was lying unconscious.
The other had vanished.
Alexander was gone too.
So was Lolo.
Maxwell ran toward the back exit.
“MAXI!”
Lolo's voice came from somewhere outside.
He rushed through the door.
A car was speeding away.
Alexander had taken his mother.
Maxwell stared at the disappearing taillights.
Then he saw something on the ground.
A small silver chain.
He picked it up.
Attached to it was an old pendant.
Clara recognized it immediately.
“My father wore one like that.”
Maxwell looked at her.
She touched it.
Then she froze.
“Wait.”
“What?”
She opened the pendant.
Inside was a tiny photograph.
Not Samuel.
Not Chief.
A young woman.
Clara stared.
“That…”
Maxwell looked closer.
“Who is she?”
Clara's voice trembled.
“My mother.”
Maxwell stared.
“But Samuel was your father.”
“He was.”
“Then why is this woman inside the pendant?”
Clara turned the photograph over.
There was a date.
And a name.
LUCY ONOCHIE.
Maxwell's face went white.
“That's my father's sister.”
Clara looked at him.
“Then why was she my mother?”
Neither could answer.
Then Maxwell's phone rang.
Alexander.
Maxwell answered.
Alexander's voice was calm.
“You have until sunrise.”
“For what?”
“To bring me the original trust documents.”
“And if I don't?”
“You'll never see your mother again.”
The call ended.
Clara looked at Maxwell.
“Where do we get the original documents?”
Maxwell stared into the rain.
“There is only one place.”
“Where?”
May you like
He whispered:
“The room beneath the stairs.”
