Chapter 6 - Beneath the East PastureWe reached the eastern pasture just before sunrise.
The GPS showed Avery's location.
Then it stopped.
The signal disappeared.
We got out.
Wind moved through the tall grass.
No vehicles.
No buildings.
Nothing.
Then Robert saw the fence.
One section had been cut.
We followed the tire tracks.
They led toward an abandoned pumping station.
I had not seen anyone use it in twenty years.
Inside, the concrete floor was cracked.
A steel trapdoor sat in the corner.
I opened it.
A staircase descended.
Robert swore under his breath.
“This goes deep.”
We went down.
At the bottom was a tunnel.
Old electrical cables ran along the walls.
Then we heard voices.
We moved silently.
Avery was ahead.
Her hands were tied.
Alan stood beside her.
Four men surrounded them.
But there was someone else.
A woman.
Elegant.
Older.
Maybe sixty.
She wore a cream-colored suit.
Alan stood beside her like a frightened employee.
She turned.
Looked directly at me.
And smiled.
“Clifford.”
I knew her.
Not personally.
But I'd seen her face in newspapers.
Vivian Rook.
Former state senator.
Philanthropist.
One of the wealthiest women in Texas.
Robert whispered beside me.
“The Benefactor.”
Vivian smiled.
“So you've finally met the real problem.”
Avery struggled against her restraints.
“Dad!”
I stepped forward.
“Let her go.”
Vivian laughed.
“You still think this is about your daughter.”
“What do you want?”
“The ranch.”
“You'll never own it.”
“No.”
She walked closer.
“I don't need to own it.”
She pointed behind me.
“I only need the trust.”
Robert stepped forward.
“You forged his signature.”
Vivian looked amused.
“Alan did.”
Alan looked uncomfortable.
“Vivian—”
She turned toward him.
“Be quiet.”
For the first time, I saw Alan frightened of someone.
Vivian looked back at me.
“You have something your father kept hidden.”
“What?”
“The Black Ledger.”
Margaret stepped forward.
“It's gone.”
Vivian smiled.
“I know.”
She snapped her fingers.
A screen turned on.
Footage appeared.
My father.
Twenty-eight years younger.
Standing in this same tunnel.
He was speaking to someone.
I stepped closer.
The other person was Vivian.
My father was handing her a box.
I stared.
“My father knew you.”
Vivian nodded.
“He didn't just know me.”
She smiled.
“He worked for me.”
The world seemed to tilt.
“That isn't possible.”
“Oh, it is.”
She continued.
“Your father discovered the mineral deposit. He wanted out. He believed the ranch could stay in the family.”
She laughed softly.
“He was wrong.”
I looked at the screen.
“And my mother?”
“Your mother knew too much.”
I felt something inside me crack.
“What happened to her?”
Vivian's eyes hardened.
“She died because your father chose the ranch.”
Avery stared at me.
“Dad…”
I couldn't speak.
Then Alan stepped toward Vivian.
“The transfer documents are ready.”
She looked at him.
“Good.”
Alan hesitated.
“But what happens after he signs?”
Vivian smiled.
“He won't.”
Alan looked confused.
Vivian turned toward me.
“Because dead men don't need signatures.”
I froze.
A gunshot exploded.
Robert fell.
“Avery!”
Vivian grabbed my daughter.
The lights went out.
Everything disappeared into darkness.
Then emergency lights flickered on.
Avery was gone.
Vivian was gone.
Alan was gone.
Only Robert lay on the ground.
Blood spread across his shirt.
I dropped beside him.
“Robert!”
He opened his eyes.
“Not… me.”
“What?”
He grabbed my jacket.
“Go…”
“Where?”
His hand tightened.
“Your father's office.”
“What about it?”
His lips moved.
“The wall.”
“Which wall?”
He whispered one final sentence.
“The one that isn't a wall.”
May you like
Then his eyes closed.
And somewhere in the tunnel, I heard footsteps running toward the surface.
