Chapter 12 - Beneath the FoundationRichard didn't come alone.
Five men stepped from three black vehicles.
Nathan locked every door.
“We need another exit.”
“There isn't one.”
“Yes, there is.”
I remembered the hidden corridor.
The one under Harold's chair.
“Follow me.”
We descended.
Nathan stopped beneath the foundation map.
“The vault is here.”
He pointed to the wall.
I inserted the tiny key.
Nothing happened.
“Try turning it.”
I did.
A deep mechanical sound rolled through the concrete.
The wall moved.
Behind it was another corridor.
The air smelled old.
We entered.
After twenty feet, we reached a steel door.
A digital screen displayed one message.
IDENTITY CONFIRMATION REQUIRED.
“What now?”
Nathan looked at the pendant.
“DNA.”
My heart sank.
“Whose?”
“Yours.”
A scanner lit up.
I placed my thumb on it.
Red.
Then green.
The door opened.
Inside was a room filled with file cabinets.
Computers.
Boxes.
Photographs.
And one chair.
Someone was sitting in it.
A woman.
Her wrists were tied.
Her face was bruised.
Dark hair.
Scar near her chin.
I stopped breathing.
“Rebecca?”
The woman looked up.
Her eyes widened.
Then she whispered:
“Harold's wife.”
I rushed forward.
Nathan cut the restraints.
Rebecca stood slowly.
“They told me you were dead.”
“Who?”
“Richard.”
She looked at Marcus.
Then froze.
“Oh.”
Marcus stepped forward.
“I'm sorry.”
Rebecca shook her head.
“You were a child.”
“I’m his son.”
She looked at him.
“No.”
The word landed heavily.
“You're his brother.”
Marcus stared.
Rebecca was older.
Her mother had died when she was young.
Richard had hidden her after she discovered the ledger.
Harold had found her.
And instead of exposing Richard immediately, he'd hidden her under our own property.
“I don't understand.”
Rebecca looked at me.
“Harold believed the safest place for me was the one place Richard would never search properly.”
“Our home.”
“Yes.”
“Then why did he leave me out?”
“Because he knew Richard would torture you for information.”
I felt tears burn my eyes.
“Harold could have trusted me.”
“He did.”
Rebecca reached for my hand.
“He trusted you enough not to put you in danger.”
Then the lights went out.
Rebecca stiffened.
“They found us.”
A voice echoed through the corridor.
“Rebecca.”
Richard.
Marcus stepped in front of her.
Richard laughed from the darkness.
“My son.”
Marcus answered:
“You're not taking her.”
“I'm not here for her.”
He paused.
“I'm here for the ledger.”
Nathan raised his weapon.
A shot cracked through the corridor.
Nathan fell.
I screamed.
Marcus pulled Rebecca behind the cabinets.
Another shot.
The steel door slammed shut.
We were trapped.
Then I heard a whisper beside me.
“There's another way.”
Rebecca pointed toward the floor.
A hidden hatch.
We lifted it.
Below was a narrow tunnel leading toward the beach.
We crawled through.
Behind us, Richard's men hammered against the steel door.
Rebecca whispered:
“The ledger isn't here.”
“Then where?”
She looked at me.
“Harold gave it to someone.”
“Who?”
She swallowed.
“Your daughter.”
I froze.
“I don't have a daughter.”
May you like
Rebecca looked confused.
“That's what Harold wanted you to believe.”
