Chapter 9 - Seventeen MinutesWe reached the harbor in eleven.

The warehouse doors were open.

Too open.

Richard raised a hand.

“Stay behind me.”

We entered.

Nothing.

No guards.

No Victor.

No father.

Only rows of empty shipping containers.

Then a loudspeaker crackled.

Victor's voice filled the warehouse.

“Nathan.”

I froze.

“You've inherited a fortune.”

His voice echoed.

“But you inherited something much more valuable.”

“What?”

“Your grandfather's enemies.”

A screen lit up across the warehouse.

My father appeared.

Tied to a chair.

He was conscious.

Barely.

Victor stood behind him.

“You have five minutes to choose.”

“Choose what?”

“Your company.”

The screen changed.

A document appeared.

Transfer papers.

“My grandfather's company is not yours.”

“It becomes mine if you sign.”

Richard whispered,

“Don't engage.”

Victor laughed.

“Your lawyer is very predictable.”

Another screen appeared.

Blackwood House.

Live security feed.

Then another.

The company headquarters.

Employees moving.

Then another.

My father's old house.

Cole and Melissa were inside.

Victor had cameras everywhere.

“You see, Nathan?” Victor said. “You are not the owner of anything.”

I stared at the screens.

“You want the company.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because your grandfather took it from me.”

Richard whispered,

“That's a lie.”

Victor laughed.

“James didn't build Brooks Maritime alone.”

He stepped closer to the camera.

“I built half of it.”

“You stole from it.”

“I borrowed.”

“You killed my mother.”

Victor's smile disappeared.

“No.”

I froze.

“You did not?”

“I wanted her to stop investigating.”

He looked at my father.

“Daniel panicked.”

My father raised his head.

“Don't listen to him.”

Victor laughed.

“Tell him.”

My father's face crumpled.

“I was supposed to drive her home.”

The words came slowly.

“I followed her because she had the documents.”

“Why?”

“Because Victor told me to recover them.”

I stared at the screen.

“Dad.”

He looked at me.

“I thought he was going to scare her.”

Victor's smile returned.

“But then she fought.”

My father closed his eyes.

“And Victor took the wheel.”

The room became silent.

My father's voice cracked.

“I watched him force the car toward the barrier.”

I couldn't breathe.

“You knew?”

“I knew he caused the crash.”

Tears filled his eyes.

“I didn't know she would die.”

I turned away.

Everything I believed about my father was collapsing at once.

Then Victor spoke.

“There is one thing Daniel still doesn't know.”

“What?”

Victor looked at the camera.

“Your mother survived the crash long enough to tell your grandfather something.”

“What?”

Victor leaned closer.

“She told him where she had hidden the evidence.”

Richard's face changed.

“Where?”

Victor smiled.

“Inside Blackwood House.”

The screen went black.

Then a message appeared.

Find it before midnight.

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The warehouse lights turned red.

And every door slammed shut.