Chapter 6 - THE MAN BEHIND THE DOORGrant recognized the voice.
He had heard it once before.
Three years earlier.
At his father's funeral.
It belonged to Marcus Vale.
Lenora's former business attorney.
Except Marcus Vale was supposed to be dead.
Grant whispered:
“Back up.”
Audrey pulled Caleb closer.
The hidden door opened.
Marcus stood there.
Older.
Thinner.
His hair had gone gray.
But his eyes were unchanged.
Cold.
Precise.
Grant stepped forward.
“You died.”
Marcus smiled.
“That was the idea.”
Audrey gasped.
Marcus looked at her.
“Still keeping secrets?”
Grant moved between them.
“What do you want?”
“The same thing I've wanted for three years.”
“Which is?”
“The drive.”
Grant glanced toward the desk.
Marcus noticed.
“You found the room.”
Grant's jaw tightened.
“What is this?”
“Insurance.”
“Against what?”
Marcus laughed quietly.
“Against people like your mother.”
Grant stared at him.
“You worked for her.”
“I worked for your father.”
“Then why did you help her?”
“Because she paid more.”
Grant's face hardened.
Marcus stepped inside.
“You don't understand the game your father was playing.”
“Explain it.”
“He discovered an offshore network used to move company money.”
“By Lenora?”
“Lenora was a piece.”
“Then who controlled it?”
Marcus looked at Audrey.
“She knows.”
Grant turned.
“Audrey?”
Audrey shook her head.
“No.”
Marcus smiled.
“She never told you because she was afraid.”
Grant looked at his wife.
“Afraid of what?”
Marcus answered.
“Your brother.”
Grant froze.
“I don't have a brother.”
Marcus's expression changed.
“You do.”
Audrey whispered:
“Grant…”
“No.”
He turned to her.
“What is he talking about?”
Audrey began crying.
Marcus continued.
“Your mother had a son before she met your father.”
Grant stared.
“A son?”
“His name is Ethan.”
The room seemed to shrink.
“Where is he?”
Marcus smiled.
“Closer than you think.”
Grant felt a wave of dizziness.
“My mother doesn't have another son.”
“She does.”
“Why was he hidden?”
“Because your father knew the truth.”
“What truth?”
Marcus hesitated.
Then he said:
“Ethan was involved in the financial network.”
Grant looked at the photographs on the wall.
Suddenly, several faces became familiar.
One man appeared repeatedly beside Lenora.
At restaurants.
At airports.
Outside the company headquarters.
Grant had never known his identity.
Now he saw the resemblance.
The same eyes.
The same jaw.
The same cold smile.
“That's him.”
Marcus nodded.
“That's Ethan.”
Grant's heart hammered.
“Where is he now?”
Marcus looked at his watch.
“Probably outside.”
A gunshot exploded upstairs.
Audrey screamed.
Marcus pushed Grant down.
Another shot.
Glass shattered.
Marcus grabbed the folder.
“Move!”
They ran through the hidden passage.
Grant pulled Audrey behind him.
They reached the back door.
Another bullet struck the wall.
Grant shoved the door open.
They ran into the snow.
Behind them, the house lights suddenly went dark.
Grant looked back.
His home disappeared into blackness.
Then his phone buzzed.
A message from Lenora.
You should have left when I told you to.
Another message.
Now everyone is going to learn what Audrey did.
Grant stared.
A third message arrived.
This time there was a photograph.
Audrey standing outside his father's study.
Holding the flash drive.
The timestamp was three minutes before his father died.
Grant looked at Audrey.
She was shaking.
“Grant, please.”
He stared at the photograph.
“Why does the timestamp say you were there three minutes before he died?”
Audrey's face collapsed.
“Because I was.”
Grant stepped away.
“Did you kill him?”
Audrey covered her mouth.
“No!”
Marcus grabbed Grant's arm.
“Don't let your mother isolate you.”
Grant pulled free.
“I need the truth.”
Marcus looked at him.
“Then you need to see the video.”
“What video?”
“The last recording your father ever made.”
“Where?”
Marcus pointed toward the house.
“Your mother's basement.”
Grant looked at the dark windows.
“And how do we get it?”
Marcus smiled.
“We don't.”
May you like
He handed Grant a key.
“Your mother does.”
